Man kills self for failing to raise bride price

For failing to recover his money from debtors to enable him pay the bride price for a second wife, Abubakar Ahmed, a farmer in a village in Kebbi State, concluded that life was not worth living. And he hanged himself.Weekly Trust gathered that the late Abubakar had invited few villagers, including his elder brother, the […]

For failing to recover his money from debtors to enable him pay the bride price for a second wife, Abubakar Ahmed, a farmer in a village in Kebbi State, concluded that life was not worth living. And he hanged himself.
Weekly Trust gathered that the late Abubakar had invited few villagers, including his elder brother, the village head of Ganten Fadama, Bello Amadu and reportedly told them about his wedding slated for Friday. He, however, told them that he had no money to pay the bride price, because debtors would not pay him his money.
According to Malam Sambo Bello, the 82-year old grandfather of Abubakar, his grandson committed suicide over his inability to pay the bride price for Riske Hassan to be his second wife. The incident happened penultimate Saturday in Ganten Tudu, Kaoje in Bagudo Local Government Area of Kebbi State. 
He said guests and elders had gathered for the traditional wedding ceremony, but unknown to them, his grandson had not paid the bride price.
The mournful Malam Sambo, a nomad, was sitting in the midst of sympathizers when Weekly Trust visited the family compound in Ganten Tudu, a predominantly Fulani settlement with a population of about 1,000 people. It is about 10 kilometers drive on the rough road from Kaoje town and about 200 kilometers from Birnin Kebbi.
He said “we were invited for the ceremony on Friday. Unknown to us, the bride price of N40,000 was not paid. So, when we sighted him (Abubakar) coming from Buya village, where he stays with his mother, we beckoned on him to come and identify the person he handed the bride price to so that we can commence the wedding rites. To everyone’s surprise, Abubakar changed his earlier claim.
“He confessed that he didn’t give anybody money for the bride price, but appealed to be given time to follow up on some people owing him money. He promised to pay the money that same day,” he said.
Weekly Trust heard from family sources that, sensing the desperation on the part of Abubakar and the embarrassment not paying the bride price might cause, his uncle Usman Sambo promised to contribute N20,000 and a sack of kolanut for the event to hold.
In addition, Abubakar’s grandfather also promised to complete the balance should Abubakar fail to source for the money to pay the same day as he promised.
But surprisingly, Malam Sambo said  the entire village woke up the next day to the shocking news that Abubakar hanged himself, because of the frustration caused by his failure to personally raise his bride price money.
Abubakar used the rope meant for tying a Carmel to hang himself on a tree. Earlier, the owner of a Camel had alerted the villagers of his Camel’s missing rope, until it was found on the neck of the deceased dangling on the tree.
Weekly Trust gathered that the late Abubakar was married to his first wife Lame, 20, who is nine months pregnant. She has moved to her family in a remote village because of her condition.
Neighbours say Abubakar married Lame not more than two years ago and they were still living together, wondering why the desperation to marry another wife. Sources told Weekly Trust that Abubakar’s family has no history of any mental disease or drug abuse.
Family friends say Abubakar’s father Amadu died 10 years ago from an ailment and left behind three children. Two, including Abubakar, have now died, leaving only a female who is married with children.
“He was not competing with anybody in seeking Riske’s hands in marriage and no pressure from his in-laws or from anybody at all. So, it really baffled us that he resorted to taking his life, maybe it is due to pride or something,” one of the villagers said.
When Weekly Trust visited the family compound of Riske Hassan, the 16-year-old in the center of the whole episode, was apparently mourning. Riske, the seventh child in the family of Malam Hassan and Malama Hauwa, said she will never marry any other man in her life, after losing the only man she loved.
“We met during the last Eid-el Kabir celebration and since then we have been seeing each other before he later sent his representatives who got approval from my parents for the marriage,” Riske said.
“I loved him so much and have not been seeing any man apart from him. He has never shown me any sign that he does not have money to pay for my bride price. If he had told me, I would have allowed the marriage to hold on credit,” she said.
When asked whether she will look for another suitor and move on with her life,  Riske, who is not in school said, “let me tell you, never in my life will I fall in love again, not to talk of even thinking of marriage again, never,” she said.
“Abubakar is a humble gentleman and very caring too. I will miss him a lot and his death has completely devastated my life. I can’t eat and I have not been feeling too well since I got the news of his death because of me,” Riske added soberly.
Late Abubakar’s mother, Aisha Amadu, said she had made several attempts to discourage him from the marriage because of the condition of his first wife, but all in vain.
“I told him to allow his first wife to give birth first before contemplating taking any second wife. Moreover, he is not making enough from his farming business to cater for one wife, not to talk of taking a second wife, but we have left everything to God,” she said.
Back in Kaoje, the Area Development Chairman, Abdullahi Bello, described the incident as unfortunate and avoidable.
“The unfortunate thing is that this is not his first wife. We would have even supported him with some money if we had been told about it. This is rather very strange to us here because marriages can be done on credit,” he said.
Adamu Ruwa, Assistant Sole Administrator of Kaoje from Gatem Famada, described the death of Abubakar as painful. “He shouldn’t have done such a thing, most especially that our religion forbids one taking his own life for whatever reason.”
Some members of the community said they wish he had come to them for support instead of taking his life. “We would have contributed the money for him. May Allah forgive him,” they prayed.
Meanwhile, attempts to speak with the police failed up to the time of filing in this report.