Widower who lost wife and six children remarries at Kano's mass wedding for 1,500 couples
Haruna Bashir, whose wife and six children were killed in an attack, married again during a state-organized mass ceremony for 1,500 couples in Kano, Nigeria.
In northern Nigeria, a government-sponsored mass wedding brought together 1,500 couples, including widower Haruna Bashir, who lost his wife and six children in a recent attack. Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf organized the event as a social intervention, providing each bride with a 200,000 naira dowry and starter supplies such as beds and blankets. Sheikh Aminu Ibrahim Daurawa of the Kano State Hisbah Board confirmed that all couples received counseling and fulfilled legal and religious criteria.
Kano Chief Imam Prof. Sani Zahraddeen offered prayers for the newlyweds, while participants like 38-year-old widow Malama Ainau Mudi expressed gratitude for a fresh start. Social-welfare expert Dr. Musa Abdullahi noted the initiative could bolster family stability but warned it should be part of broader economic support. The ceremony marked a hopeful turning point for Bashir as he begins rebuilding his life after profound loss.
Why it matters
The event shows how government programs can help vulnerable families rebuild after trauma and address marriage affordability.
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