Student sets self ablaze in Kano over ‘inability to pay NECO exam fee’

Danladi Shu’aib, a 20-year-old student in Kano state, has reportedly set himself ablaze after he failed to get enough money to pay for his senior secondary school certificate examination (SSCE).

Shu’aib, a resident of Garo town of Kabo LGA of the state, was said to have participated in the National Examination Council (NECO) exercise three times, but failed.

NECO had insisted that the registration for the 2021 exercise would end on June 25 — the fee for the examination is N9,850.

Iliya Ahmad, a resident, told TheCable that the late Shu’aib set himself ablaze after earlier threats to commit suicide if he failed to participate in the examination.

According to Ahmad, the incident occurred last Tuesday in Garo area.

The late Shu’aib was said to have made attempts to get the fees for the examination, but became frustrated after his efforts proved abortive.

He reportedly set himself ablaze inside his home, but his screams were said to have attracted neighbours, who rushed him to the Garo Cottage Hospital for treatment.

He, however, died afterwards.

According to a resident of the area, the deceased was “a trainee at a mechanic garage in Garo”.

When Abdullahi Kiyawa, spokesman for the Kano police command, was contacted, he declined comment over the incident.