“I Thought She Loved Me”: Man Poisoned by 14-Year-Old Bride Speaks Out

A tragic love story turned nightmarish in Albasu village, Jahun Local Government Area, Jigawa State, when 29-year-old Khamis Haruna narrowly survived being poisoned by his 14-year-old bride, Zahara’u, just days after their wedding. While Haruna and one of his friends recovered after urgent medical treatment, another friend, Muhammed Alfah, tragically succumbed to the poisoning.

“I thought she loved me,” Haruna said, his voice filled with disbelief and pain. “We were married for love. She never showed any signs of ill feelings before this evil act.”

Haruna and Zahara’u had been in a two-year relationship before they tied the knot. The couple married on a Friday, with the celebration lasting until Sunday, when Zahara’u moved into Haruna’s home. On that fateful Sunday night, after most of the wedding guests had departed, Haruna and his two friends were served a meal of jollof spaghetti prepared by Zahara’u.

Haruna vividly recalled the disturbing moment: “We were in my tailoring shop when some of her friends came and asked us to come eat. I had been busy sewing, and we told them we were not ready. They returned with the food later, and we began eating. We didn’t notice anything at first, but after a few bites, we found something strange in the food. We became suspicious and stopped eating immediately.”

Within moments, all three men began experiencing severe stomach pains. Haruna described the horror as they realized they had been poisoned: “Alfah was the first to complain. He got up to leave but collapsed. We rushed him to a nearby friend’s house, but soon, we too were writhing in pain. We were given milk, but it didn’t help, and our condition worsened rapidly. We had to be rushed to Jahun Hospital, but by the time we arrived, Alfah was already dead.”

Alfah, a young father of twin babies just six days old, was the tragic victim of this betrayal. His father, Malam Muhammad Sani, mourned the loss of his only son, describing him as a loyal, responsible, and religious man. “Alfah was the backbone of our family. He was the one I relied on, and now I’ve lost him. My heart is broken,” Sani said, tears in his eyes. “I pray that Allah forgives his sins and grants him paradise.”

Isyaku Adamu, one of the two survivors, also recalled the horror. “The three of us were together when the bride sent people to bring food to us. We didn’t think anything was wrong at first, but when we started eating, we noticed something strange. The food didn’t look right, and we could see the substance in the spaghetti. I was the one who tried to cover it, but it was too late. The pain came quickly, and it hit us all at once. Alfah couldn’t make it.”

Adamu spoke of the tragedy as a bittersweet memory, saying, “Alfah was like a brother to me. He was supposed to celebrate the naming of his twins the very next day. His death has left a hole in my heart. I can’t believe he’s gone.”

The police investigation revealed a disturbing twist: Zahara’u had conspired with her 22-year-old ex-lover, Lawan Musa, to poison Haruna and his friends. The young bride reportedly met Musa while collecting clothes from a tailor earlier that day, where he gave her the poisonous substance and urged her to put it in the food meant for Haruna.

“I never saw this coming,” Haruna continued, shaking his head in disbelief. “She seemed so innocent. We were so happy, and I thought she truly loved me. To find out she was behind this is something I can’t comprehend.”

The police confirmed that Zahara’u and Musa are in custody, with investigations ongoing. Lawal Shiisu Adam, the spokesperson for the Jigawa State Police Command, said: “The case is under investigation. The bride and her accomplice, Musa, conspired to poison the food that was served to Haruna and his friends. We are working to ensure justice is served in this case.”

As the community comes to terms with the horrific incident, Haruna’s family and friends are left grappling with a painful betrayal. Zahara’u’s actions have shattered the trust of a man who had once believed she was his true love.

The loss of Alfah, who had looked forward to the arrival of his twins, has left his family devastated. Isyaku, who survived the poisoning, reflected on the deep personal loss. “I’ve lost a friend, a brother. We’ll never forget him,” he said.