Nigerian advises against 86 wives

Nigerian Mohammed Bello Abubakar, 84, has advised other men not to follow his example and marry 86 women.

The former teacher and Muslim preacher, who lives in Niger State with his wives and at least 170 children, says he is able to cope only with the help of God.

"A man with 10 wives would collapse and die, but my own power is given by Allah. That is why I have been able to control 86 of them," he told the BBC. Abubakar asserts his wives have sought him out because of his reputation as a healer. "I don’t go looking for them, they come to me. I will consider the fact that God has asked me to do it and I will just marry them." Such claims have alienated the Islamic authorities in Nigeria, who have branded his family a cult.