A viral report alleging that a father cancelled his daughter’s wedding over the groom’s support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) on social media has thrown Yalwawa community in Dutse, Jigawa State capital, into confusion.

The claim had gained traction online and stirred conversation across platforms while community leaders and key individuals involved have offered conflicting accounts, further deepening uncertainty over what truly transpired.

The Ward Head of Yalwawa, Malam Ahmad Garba Yalwawa, strongly dismissed the report as false and malicious, declaring that the brains behind the story were being sought and could face legal consequences.

Speaking to The Nation in Dutse, Garba said the report was not only misleading but also a calculated attempt to embarrass the peaceful community and tarnish its image. He said his attention was first drawn to it by inquiries from concerned residents and associates who had come across the story on the social media.

“Someone called my attention to the report and asked me to verify it. I had to personally search for it, and after seeing it, I started receiving calls from different quarters seeking clarification,” he said.

Garba said despite the pressure to respond immediately, he chose to remain cautious and embark on fact-finding before making any public statement.

Garba added: “Initially, I kept silent because I was trying to understand who exactly was involved and when such an incident took place.

“Since I had no prior knowledge of it, I could neither confirm nor deny it at that moment.

“I then began a thorough investigation to determine the authenticity of the claim.”

The ward head said in the course of his investigation, he was directed to a man identified as Muhammad Sani, whose daughter was reportedly married on the same day and at the same Dr. Hamza Juma’at Mosque mentioned in the viral report.

“I invited him for clarification. He honoured the invitation and categorically denied any involvement in such a situation. He told me he had also heard the rumour circulating online but it had nothing to do with him,” Garba stated.

He further confirmed that the said Sani provided evidence that his daughter’s wedding took place peacefully and that she was already living with her husband.

“He came in person and made it clear that his daughter was successfully married and is now in her matrimonial home. There was no cancellation or controversy as being reported,” the ward head added.

Maintaining his stance, Garba described the entire narrative as fabricated, insisting that no such incident had occurred anywhere within Yalwawa or Dutse metropolis.

“In all our investigations, we have not been able to establish any truth in the report. It is clearly fake news, concocted by individuals or groups whose identities are yet to be known,” he said.

He warned that the community would not take the matter lightly, stressing that efforts were underway to uncover those responsible for spreading the misinformation.

“This is a deliberate attempt to damage the reputation of our community and possibly create tension between residents and authorities. We are already working on identifying those behind it, and we will not hesitate to take legal action once they are found,” he said.

Garba also revealed that security agencies had shown interest in the matter, further underscoring its seriousness.

“Security personnel have contacted me regarding this issue. We are appealing to anyone with useful information to come forward so that those responsible can be brought to justice,” he added.

He, however, urged residents to remain calm and not allow the controversy to disrupt the peace of the area. “I call on the people of Yalwawa to disregard the report entirely. They should remain calm, peaceful and law-abiding, as this is nothing but a baseless rumour,” he said.

Speaking at his residence in Yalwawa, the bride’s father, Malam Muhammadu Sani, said he only became aware of the story by words of mouth, as he does not actively use the social media.

“I heard about it like every other person. I did not even see the report myself because I do not use an Android phone. My handset is a basic one,” he said.

He confirmed that he indeed gave out his daughter in marriage at Dr. Hamza Juma’at Mosque on the said date but insisted that he was not the individual referred to in the viral report.

“Yes, my name is Muhammad Sani, also known as Sani Dankwangila, and I married out my daughter last Friday at that mosque. But I am not the person involved in that story,” he said.

Sani said he had already clarified the situation to the ward head when he wasbsummoned.

“I was invited by the ward head, and I explained everything to him. I told him clearly that I have nothing to do with politics or any issue involving President Tinubu. I am simply a businessman dealing in cement and blocks,” he said.

Sani, who declined a request to take his photograph, stressed that he has no interest in political matters and would not interfere in such issues.

“What business do I have with Tinubu? Whatever he does is his own responsibility. He does not even know me,” he added.

Sani also explained that, in accordance with Fulani customs, he was not directly responsible for conducting his daughter’s marriage.

“In our tradition, especially for a firstborn, the biological father is not always directly involved. My elder brother handled the marriage process. That is our culture,” he said.

He further revealed that the marriage was within the extended family; a common practice among the Fulani.

“The groom is related to us. My daughter married her maternal cousin. The arrangement was facilitated by my mother-in-law and carried out by my elder brother. There was no dispute whatsoever,” he explained.

Sani attributed the confusion to the common nature of his name within the community.

“There are many people bearing Muhammad Sani in Yalwawa. It is a large and growing area. If the report had mentioned ‘Sani Dankwangila,’ then it would clearly point to me. But it did not,” he said.

He warned that he would not hesitate to seek legal redress if he was directly implicated.

“If they had specifically mentioned my full name, I would have taken legal action and pursued damages up to the Supreme Court,” he said.

But the Chairman of Yalwawa Development Association, Comrade Umar Kazaure, offered a different narrative, saying that a dispute did occur but was eventually resolved.

Speaking with The Nation, Kazaure claimed that the incident occurred at the same mosque on the said Friday but was settled following interventions by family members and community stakeholders.

The Chairman Yalwawa Development Association described Malam Sani as the principal actor.

“Although the wedding eventually took place, the issue did arise as reported. After discussions and interventions, the matter was resolved, and the bride is now living with her husband,” he said.

Kazaure further said the matter was known in certain circles around the community, adding that he had personal knowledge of the individuals involved.

“The bride was once my student in an Islamic school. Many people are aware of what happened. It was not entirely fabricated,” he asserted.

He, however, alleged that the father of the bride may have come under pressure from certain individuals after the incident.

“The father was later intimidated and became afraid of unknown persons, possibly individuals with political interests who felt embarrassed by his initial action,” Kazaure claimed.

Providing context to the father’s alleged decision, Kazaure said it was not driven by political opposition but rather by frustration over the current economic realities in the country.

“People may interpret it as a political statement, but it was more about personal dissatisfaction. The father was unhappy with the level of hardship being experienced by ordinary Nigerians, which he believes is linked to government policies,” he explained.

According to him, the father questioned the rationale behind promoting a second-term bid for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu under such conditions.

“He was of the opinion that it is questionable for anyone, especially an ordinary citizen, to openly support such a political ambition, given the prevailing hardship,” Kazaure added.

He also shed light on local marriage customs, noting that preparations for weddings typically begin days in advance.

“As a custom here, the bride’s furniture and kitchen items are usually moved to the groom’s house three to four days before the wedding ceremony.

“In this case, those items were eventually moved on Friday night after the father reconsidered his position and allowed the wedding to proceed,” he said.

The reporter’s efforts to speak with the groom yielded no result as his identity and place of residence could not be ascertained.

A neighbour to the bride’s father, who spoke to the reporter in Yalwawa area but asked not to be named, confirmed that the issue became public at Dr. Hamza Juma’at Mosque, venue of the wedding Fatiha.

He said: “The truth of the matter is that the groom does not a reside in this area. He lives outside the city. We only saw him on that day at the wedding Fatiha venue, and he left immediately after the incident.

“Frankly, no one here can clearly tell you his identity.”

He added: “It is only members of the bride’s family who can provide details about his identity and how to reach him. And, as you know, both religiously and traditionally, it is difficult to have direct access to the bride. The easiest way to reach her is through her husband.”

As the controversy continues to generate debate, the situation in Yalwawa highlights the growing impact of viral misinformation and the challenges communities face in managing its consequences.

While authorities and community leaders work to uncover the truth, residents remain caught between conflicting narratives, one dismissing the story as outright fabrication and the other insisting that there was some element of truth, albeit resolved.

For now, calm appears to have returned to the community, but the incident serves as a reminder of how quickly unverified reports can spark tension, shape perceptions and draw attention far beyond their point of origin. (The Nation)