Nigeria’s mass wedding – and how telling lovers from fraudsters is proving tricky

Celebrations have turned the northern Nigerian city of Kano into a riot of colour and excitement over the last week as 1,500 couples married at a mass wedding.

The government describes the program as a way to support low-income families and promote social stability. Among those married were people who lost family members in violent attacks.

In northern Nigeria, 1,500 couples have tied the knot at a mass wedding organised by the state. The two-day ceremony in Kano State was aimed at people who, for financial reasons, would otherwise struggle to afford a wedding. According to the regional government, each bride received a dowry of 200,000 naira (US$147) as