By AAdo Oyeyemi
A wedding celebration in Potiskum, Yobe State, turned tragic on Friday after a reckless motorcycle rider allegedly killed a young man during a bride conveyance procession.
The victim, identified as Abubakar Haruna, reportedly died after being hit by a speeding motorcycle ridden by one of the youths participating in the celebration.
Eyewitnesses said several young men escorting the bride rode through a busy area of the town in a dangerous manner, allegedly performing stunts and speeding without regard for pedestrians and other road users.
The deceased’s brother, Muhammad Haruna, who confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria, said Abubakar was standing by the roadside when the motorcycle rider rammed into him.
“My brother was standing beside the road when one of the riders hit him violently on the head,” he said.
According to him, the impact threw the victim off balance, causing him to fall into a nearby drainage channel.
“Before help could reach him, he had already died from the injuries he sustained,” Muhammad added.
He described the incident as painful and avoidable, lamenting the growing trend of reckless motorcycle riding during social events in the area.
“This is not only heartbreaking for our family, it is something that should never have happened,” he said.
Muhammad accused youths in the community of turning bride conveyance ceremonies into dangerous displays of recklessness.
“Every celebration now comes with risky motorcycle riding, and innocent people continue to suffer because of it,” he said.
He called on the Yobe State Government and relevant authorities to strengthen traffic enforcement and impose stricter measures against reckless riding during public celebrations.
“If urgent action is not taken, more innocent lives may be lost due to carelessness and indiscipline,” he warned.
The bereaved family also demanded justice for the deceased, insisting that the rider responsible for the incident must be identified and prosecuted.
Residents of Potiskum expressed sadness over the development, describing the incident as another indication of rising safety concerns during public festivities in the area.
Community leaders also stressed the need for increased public awareness and responsible conduct among youths to prevent similar tragedies in future.
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Potiskum, one of the busiest towns in Yobe State, has in recent times witnessed concerns over unsafe behaviour during celebrations and other public gatherings.
