by MUSTAPHA USMAN

Kano State Hisbah Board has launched a manhunt on a couple who reportedly got married through Facebook, BBC Hausa has reported.

DAILY NIGERIAN reports that one Sunusi Abdullahi, a 29-year-old man from Kano State was said to have tied the knot with a lady via Facebook, with user name bearing Zainabu Abu, from Maiduguri, Borno State.

Mr Abdullahi, also known as Sunusi General, bearing Facebook username as Gen Sunus, told BBC Hausa that he jokingly proposed to marry the lady, not knowing that the matter would be a big issue.

“It all started from normal Facebook conversation together with other friends. She just proposed to me that I should marry her which I obliged.

“After a while, she sent me a private message, informing me about the marriage that she even found a representative who would stand for her for the marriage. Thereafter, my friend also volunteered to stand for me.

“We then agreed on N20, 000 bride price, which I promised to give her after the marriage. We followed all marriage rites and the wedding took place online,” he said.

According to Mr Abdullahi, the marriage had been greeted with massive uproar and debates on its legality or otherwise.

“This made me contacted Sheikh Aminu Ibrahim Daurawa, who confirmed to me that the marriage is invalid because it was conducted without the knowledge and consent of the bride’s parents,” he added.

Mr Abdullahi, however, disclosed that he is worried about the situation, to the extent that he could not sleep.

He added that his real fiancée had dumped him, while the fiancée of his ‘online’ wife had also abandoned her as a result of the matter.

“I know we have committed a big mistake. I seek forgiveness from Allah, my parents and the general public. Currently, I am not with my family because my parents are furious about my actions,” he disclosed.

When BBC contacted the spokesperson of Kano State Shariah Commission, he said the commission, had directed the Hisbah board to arrest the couple for appropriate punishment.

He said the punishment would be a lesson to others, noting that a law has reserved punishment for any offence.

DAILY NIGERIAN reports that the issue had divided clerics in the state on the legality or otherwise of the marriage, as some defended the nuptial bond while others rejected it, all using Quran and the sayings of Prophet Muhammad (SAW).