A 79-year-old man, John Tweh, has died after he reportedly set himself on fire in his five-bedroom home in Sarbo-Sweaken, Electoral District #3, River Gee County.
Local authorities, relatives, and eyewitnesses say, the incident followed a period of deep grief, and emotional distress the deceased had suffered in recent days.
The District Relieving Commissioner, Alphonso Jallah said, Tweh had suffered multiple losses in his family within days.
His nephew, Moses Tweh, died in Monrovia earlier in the week. While the family was preparing for that funeral, Tweh also lost his older son.
Commissioner Jallah said, the back-to-back deaths severely affected the elderly man’s mental state, and led to unusual behavior in the community.
On August 20, Tweh reportedly made his first attempt when ingested suspected rat poison.
Community members intervened, and he survived.
Two days later, he left home, and went into the nearby bushes from where he called his daughter in Maryland County and said: “Hello, my daughter, it’s me, your father. I’m going. We will meet again.”
Being alarmed by the call, the daughter contacted relatives.
Meanwhile, community members left their farms, searched the bushes, found Tweh, and brought him back to town.
Later that night, Tweh reportedly left the house again without informing anyone.
Despite another search by family, and community leaders, he was later found dead in his home after setting it ablaze.
The incident has left Sarbo-Sweaken in shock, and mourning.
Residents described Tweh as an elder, who had endured much in recent days.
Authorities have urged community members to pay attention to signs of distress, and to support one another, especially during periods of bereavement.
Mental health professionals, and local leaders have called for increased awareness, and community support systems to help families cope with grief, and loss.
