The tragic deaths of Abba Musa, a groom-to-be, and his bride’s elder sister, Raihanatu Sulaiman, sent shockwaves through Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchi State, leaving their families in deep grief. Upon hearing the news, Musa’s parents collapsed in shock.
Musa, his fiancée Maryam, and three others were en route to Murno village from Boto, a customary visit to the bride’s relatives before the wedding fatiha. Their journey, however, ended in disaster. About five kilometres from Boto, their car was involved in an accident when the driver swerved to avoid a mentally unstable man crossing the road. Losing control, the vehicle struck a pavement and somersaulted, killing the groom-to-be instantly and fatally injuring Raihanatu, who later died at the hospital. The bride-to-be suffered multiple fractures, while the driver and the groom’s friend sustained serious injuries.
Hundreds of wedding guests who had gathered in Boto were met with grief instead of celebration, as the accident occurred just 30 minutes before the wedding.
Alhaji Saminu Abubakar Boto, brother to the groom-to-be, described the immense sorrow gripping the community:
“It is an unimaginable loss. The entire community is mourning the deaths of my brother-in-law and my sister, Raihanatu. The family home, once filled with wedding preparations, became a place of mourning. My father collapsed and had to be rushed to the hospital, his blood pressure spiking dangerously. My mother also fainted upon hearing the news. My sister, Maryam, remains in shock. Over 4,000 people have come to console us.”
He fondly recalled his last conversation with Musa:
“We were laughing just minutes before he left for Murno. He joked about me wearing babban-riga, saying people might mistake me for the groom. We laughed. That was the last time I saw him alive.”
Reflecting on Raihanatu’s role, he added:
“She was a key part of the wedding preparations. She accompanied the groom because only she and Maryam knew the relatives’ house in Murno. According to tradition, the bride-to-be couldn’t reveal her face to guide the driver. Now, she is gone.”
The incident has left the community in mourning, with many calling it one of the saddest events in recent memory. Both deceased were buried according to Islamic rites shortly after the accident. Meanwhile, Maryam, the bride-to-be, remains inconsolable, having lost both her fiancé and sister on what was meant to be the happiest day of her life.
