Man sets himself ablaze with petrol after wife denied him selling bag of maize in Nkhotakota

AtupeA 41-year-old man, Shadrick Phiri, has died in the early hours of July 13, 2025, after setting himself ablaze with petrol after his wife denied him selling a bag of maize.

According to the deceased’s elder Cheke Phiri, 52. Shadreck left home on July 12, 2025, at about 0800 hours to a nearby village for a drinking spree where he spent all his cash. He returned home at around 2300 hours to get a bag of maize to sale but his wife refused him.

In anger, Shadreck poured himself petrol kept in the house for irrigation purposes, then left the house to unknown place where he set himself ablaze.

The deceased’s wife alerted some neighbors who joined in the search until 0230 hours when his body was found in a nearby bush with severe multiple burn wounds.

The matter was reported to Nkhunga Police, who visited the scene accompanied by medical personnel from Kabuwa Health Center. They discovered after the postmortem that death was due to severe burn wounds.