Man with 97 wives buried in Bida, Niger state - Photo

The remains of an Islamic preacher, Alhaji Mohammed Masaba, who married 97 women were on Sunday laid to rest at his residence in Efu Nakodi in Bida, Niger State.

The Islamic cleric died on Saturday afternoon after a brief illness at the age of 93 years.

The body of the Islamic cleric was committed to mother earth by 12noon after the Janizar prayers led by Alhaji Mohmmed Kutigi, amidst shout of “Allahu Akbar” by a large crowd of symphathisers and family members.

The late Masaba was survived by 97 wives some of whom are pregnant and 203 children and many grandchildren.

The first son of the deceased,  Mallam Mahmood, while speaking with journalists after the burial, said “only God knows who will succeed my late father as spiritual leader.”

Mahmood said,  “We are patiently waiting for God to choose our spiritual leader. For now, we are focusing on special prayers for the soul of the late Mohammed Bello Masaba, our father, before thinking of who will succeed him as our leader spiritually.

“I don’t think I will succeed my father but if it’s God’s will, I am ever ready to take over and continue from where my late father stopped.”

Also, the Personal Assistant to the late Masaba, Alhaji Mohammed Tahir, told the News Agency of Nigeria that “we are in a mourning period, we are not concerned about who will succeed baba for now.