Student Sets Self Ablaze Over Non-payment Of NECO fees

Allegedly unable to register for the forthcoming Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) organised by the National Examination Council (NECO), a student, identified as Danladi Shu’aib, has died by setting himself ablaze in Kano State.

Reports said the incident took place at Garo town in Kabo Local Government Area, which is about 65 kilometers from the Kano metropolis.

The reports said having written the exams three times without success, Danladi, who was 20 years old, felt frustrated following his inability to raise money to register for the examination again.

Sources said with efforts at raising funds for this year’s registration becoming futile, the Senior Secondary School student could no longer bear the frustration and may have decided to take his life as the last resort.

It was confirmed that the deceased had on several occasions threatened to commit suicide if he failed to write the exams given his ambition to further his studies.

Regrettably, the threat was not given serious thought by family members and friend around him until the unfortunate fire incident that took his life.

It was reliably gathered that the late Danladi had raised half of the amount, but eventually gave up hope of fulfilling his dreams when he was unable to complete the remaining half to settle the NECO fees.

According to the reports, he was rushed to Garo Cottage hospital after setting himself on fire, but died two days later due to severity of the burns.

The reported quoted another resident of the area and a neighbour of the deceased, who did not want his name in print, as saying: “Danladi used to go and work in one mechanic garage; so after getting his pay for the day, he used them to buy fuel; and later entered one room in their house, poured it on his body and set himself ablaze.

“However, when the fire heat penetrated his body, he started crying for help. People were able to put it off and rushed him to the hospital.

“But, two days after, he died as a result of the injuries he sustained from the inferno.”

However, the authorities in Kano State Police Command were yet to confirm receiving an official report on the incident as at the time of filing this report.

The Command Spokesman, Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa however refused an official reaction on the incident, claiming that he has not received any briefing from the appropriate quarters.