Kano mass wedding: 20 couples HIV positive

TWENTY prospective couples out of 1,000 widows, widowers and divorcees scheduled for mass wedding in Kano, on Sunday, have been discovered to be HIV positive.
The commander-general of the Kano State Hisbah Board, Sheik Aminu Daurawa, also said five of them were also discovered to be pregnant before marriage, despite the shariah practice in the state which forbids this.
These, according to Sheik Daurawa, were discovered during the mandatory medical check-ups.
It will be recalled that two batches of mass wedding had been held in the state, third batch scheduled for Sunday.
However, Sheik Daurawa added that each of the 44 councils would hold the wedding prayer session for 21 couples, while the session for the remaining 76 couples would be conducted in the state capital.
He further disclosed that the board had set aside N10 million to be paid as dowries to the brides, in addition to providing other essential items for the couples.
Daurawa disclosed that a renowned Kano-based businessman, Alhaji Isiyaka Rabi’u and the governor of the Central Bank (CBN), Mallam Lamido Sanusi had donated towards the success of the programme.
Also, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Gambo Danpass, donated 200 bundles of lace materials to the brides.
Danpass also donated 2,000 SIM cards of Glo Mobile Telecommunications to be distributed free to the couples.
Tribune