MAIDUGURI: Tragedy struck in Gubio Local Government Area of Borno State on Sunday evening when a young woman reportedly took her own life after being forced by her father to marry one of his friends.
The heartbreaking incident was brought to public attention by counterinsurgency and security expert, Zagazola Makama, who shared details of the case on Monday.
According to Makama, the victim whose name has not yet been released died shortly after the wedding arrangement was concluded.
He said the woman was under severe emotional distress due to pressure from her family to go ahead with the marriage against her will.
“The tragedy occurred around 6:20 p.m. in Gubio, when the young woman, overwhelmed by emotional pain, ended her life after being compelled to marry a man she did not love,” Makama stated.
Confirming the report, a local child protection volunteer, Bukar Fantami Gubio, described the incident as deeply unfortunate and preventable.
He revealed that the deceased had repeatedly told her family she did not want to marry the man chosen for her, as she was already in love with someone else.
“The emotional pressure she went through as a result of this forced marriage pushed her into taking her own life. It is truly a sad situation that calls for urgent action,” Gubio said.
He urged human rights organizations, security agencies, and relevant authorities to investigate the case and ensure justice is served.
He also appealed to parents and community leaders to respect the rights and choices of young women in marital matters, stressing that forced marriages remain a violation of human rights.
This tragedy is a reminder of the urgent need to protect the freedom and dignity of young women against all forms of abuse and coercion, he added.
Attempts by Reporters to obtain confirmation from the Borno State Police Command were unsuccessful as the command’s spokesperson, Nahum Kenneth Daso, did not respond to calls or messages as of press time.
