Tragedy as bride slumps on wedding day in Ogbomoso

In Ogbomoso, Oyo state, tragedy struck over the weekend when a bride passed away the morning after the day her wedding was scheduled to take place. It is one of the tragic tales that emphasises the enigmatic nature of life.

Our correspondence gathered that the groom, Abiodun Oluwadamilare and Rebecca Oyedotun, who was the bride but never became a wife, set Saturday, August 19th 2023, as the day for their wedding. The groom, who is from Abeokuta in Ogun State, had arrived in Ogbomoso with his family and friends by Thursday, August 17, as preparations were well under way. The late Rebecca had been in Ogbomoso since Monday.

A deceased sister-in-law revealed to our correspondence at their residence in Caretaker area on Wednesday in the presence of the deceased’s father, Evangelist Moses Oyedotun, that “everything was set by Friday, the cows had been slaughtered and the meat fried, every necessary preparation had been made, there were a lot of people coming and going to rejoice with us, and the groom and his people had come from Abeokuta.”

She went on to say that the groom’s parents had indeed killed their cow at Ogbomoso, and that Abiodun was their only child. The event caused a flurry of enthusiasm, but everyone was unaware that tragedy was ominously lurking around the corner.

The sister-in-law lamented, “We had bought ewedu to be used, ingredients had been ground, and on Saturday morning, amala (yam flour paste) was produced, rice was ready, and the venues were arranged, but the ceremony never took place since the bride was never available.

When asked if the lady had displayed any symptoms of illness, she replied in the negative, emphasising that she was well and strong.

The father of the deceased, Evangelist Oyedotun of C&S Reformed Church, Isale-High School area, managed to say everything was going perfectly until about 10:30pm Friday when she and her friends were having the bridal shower ceremony and she reportedly slumped. The mother of the deceased, Mrs. Ruth Oyedotun, however, could not utter a single word, visibly overcome by grief.

The father said: “We hurriedly transported her to Ogbomoso’s LAUTECH Teaching Hospital. After some time, she was recovering and appeared stable. By Saturday morning, a nurse informed us, quoting a doctor, that she would be briefly released from the hospital so she could attend the ceremony and sign the marriage licence before being sent back to continue the treatment.

“However, things started to get worse again, and she was forced to stay in bed. For several examinations, we even had to take her to Bowen University Teaching Hospital, which we dutifully did. Her husband who on learning fainted and was later anxiously crying, ‘let me take her away.’ We were in the hospital throughout that Saturday.”

Her condition did not improve until she gave up the host Sunday morning.

It was gathered that numerous visitors who were unaware of the news were discovered to have arrived at the church on Saturday to witness the occasion and celebrate with the couple, “only to find the church empty.

”The 28-year-old graduate of the Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna, Niger state, was reported to have worked in Lagos state until her untimely death.

She was regarded as a kind, laid-back woman who was committed to serving God.

-MOUTHPIECE NGR