Woman douses self in petrol, roasts over Microfinance bank’s N70, 000 debt

The precarious and entrapping economic situation has claimed the life of a middle-aged woman in Abeokuta, Ogun capital, as she doused herself and tenement apartment in petrol before igniting it.

The trader simply identified as Mama Dada had roasted in the blaze at her Oke-Keesi, Itoko rented room over her inability to repay a N70,000 loan given her by a microfinance bank.

Persecondnews gathered that the trader, whose business has been experiencing serious challenges due to the current economic and financial crises, decided to end it all following persistent harassment and arrest by the microfinance bank for her to pay up.

The deceased sent her last born to get petrol for her and on arrival, she again sent him on another errand and before he could come back home she locked herself up in the room, doused herself and the room in petrol and ignited herself and the room.

“She was burnt beyond recognition while the entire building was also destroyed, a sympathizer and one of the early callers, Mr Afeez Ajani, said.

It took residents of Itoko area a hectic time before they could save the building from being completely destroyed by the fire.

Meanwhile, the badly burnt body of the woman has been deposited at the morgue of the Ogun State Specialists’ Hospital, Ijaye, Abeokuta.

Contacted, the spokesman for the State Police Command, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, could not be reached for his comment as his telephone lines were “busy”.

Persecondnews reports that loans being given out by microfinance banks to petty traders popularly referred to as “gbomu le lantern” (loans with high interest rates) have caused socio-economic problems for the traders in recent times.

The small banks employ all manner of dehumanizing means to recover their loans which has forced many beneficiaries to run away.

The various distortions and hitches in the nation’s worsening economy have contributed to the plights of the market women.

Currency crisis and high cost of petrol have taken tolls on transportation and businesses in the informal sector generally.