Katsina man dies during traditional Fulani Sharo duel involving a fight to win woman's hand in marriage

KATSINA man Ahmed Saidu  has been arrested by the police and looks set to be charged with manslaughter after killing another local Yari Inusa during a traditional marriage ritual that involved both of them fighting it out to win a lady's hand.

Mr Inusa died while competing with another suitor for a lady’s hand in marriage at Durmin Biri village, in the Kafur Local Government Area of Katsina State. Police sources said the man died following injuries he sustained on the head when he engaged in a Fulani traditional game of Sharo with Mr Saidu, to determine who would marry the lady.

Sharo game entails two male suitors flogging each other for a woman’s hand in marriage and whoever wins between them will marry the girl. Mr Inusa had reportedly flogged Mr Saidu without any incident but tragedy struck when it was the turn of the flogging to be reversed..

Mr Saidu allegedly hit Mr Inusa on the head, instead of hitting him on the back as the rules of the game dictates. Mr Inusa was said to have fainted after he was hit on the head and eventual died.

Gambo Isah, the spokesman for the Katsina State Police Command, said: “Inusa’s father, Mallam, reported the incident to the police, leading to the arrest of Saidu. Mr Inusa’s corpse had been released to the family and buried according to Islamic rites."