Forced Marriage Tragedy: Borno Woman Takes Her Own Life After Father Compels Her to Wed His Friend
Tragedy has hit Gubio Local Government Area of Borno State, where a young woman reportedly took her own life after being compelled by her father to marry one of his close friends. The devastating event occurred on Sunday evening and has sparked widespread outrage across the state.
PulseNets learnt that the shocking incident was first made public by counter-insurgency and security analyst Zagazola Makama, who shared details of the case on Monday. According to Makama, the victim—whose identity remains undisclosed—ended her life shortly after the forced marriage arrangement had been finalized.
“It’s a tragic event from Gubio,” Makama was quoted as saying. “A young woman took her own life after being pressured by her father to marry one of his friends. The emotional distress she faced was unbearable.”
Information obtained by PulseNets indicates that the incident occurred around 6:20 p.m. on Sunday. Sources familiar with the matter disclosed that the deceased had been under intense emotional pressure to comply with the arranged marriage, despite expressing her unwillingness.
A local child protection volunteer, Bukar Fantami Gubio, who also spoke to PulseNets, confirmed the tragedy and described it as both “heartbreaking and preventable.”
“She had openly said she didn’t want the marriage because she was already in love with someone else,” Gubio told PulseNets. “The pain and family pressure she experienced were overwhelming and sadly drove her to take her own life. It’s a very painful loss.”
Gubio further told PulseNets that this incident underscores the need for urgent intervention by human rights organisations, law enforcement agencies, and community leaders to ensure justice for the deceased and prevent future cases of forced marriage.
“This tragedy reminds us that every young woman deserves the right to choose her partner freely,” he added. “Forced marriages are not just cultural issues—they are serious human rights violations that destroy lives.”
When PulseNets reached out to the Borno State Police Command for an official statement, there was no response as of press time. Calls and messages sent to the Command’s spokesperson, Nahum Kenneth Daso, went unanswered.
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The incident has since reignited national conversations about women’s rights, parental pressure, and forced marriages in northern Nigeria, with many calling for stricter enforcement of child protection and human rights laws.
