By Laleye Dipo in Minna
A former head of state, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd), has prayed that the spate of hostage taking, cattle rustling and other crimes in the country should come to an end.
He expressed the hope at the Minna eid prayer ground on Friday after joining hundreds of Muslims to say the two Rakkat prayers as part of the activities to mark the festival of Eid-el-fitri.
“I do hope all human beings will take the lesson of the fasting period to serve God and be each others’ keeper and also to maintain peace all over the world.
“I hope peace will reign in Nigeria so that these problems we are going through, kidnapping, hostage taking, cattle rustling will come to an end,” he said.
Gen. Abdulsalami challenged Nigerians to continue to live in peace with one another for the socio-economic development of the country.
Also speaking after the prayer, the acting governor of Niger State, Alhaji Muhammed Ahmed Ketso, charged Nigerians to “remain peaceful, united and show commitment to our dear country Nigeria”.
The ed-el-fitri festival was marked under a very peaceful atmosphere in Minna, the Niger State capital on Friday.
Hundreds of Muslims thronged the various eid prayer grounds for the two  Rakkat prayers which started at about 9.00 am.
The prayer at the Minna eid prayer ground was led by the Chief Imam of Minna Central Mosque, Alhaji Abu Fari.
Prominent Muslims among them the Emir of Minna, Dr Umar Farouq Bahago; former head of state, Abubakar; acting Niger State governor, Ketso; Mohammed Babangida, son of former military president; Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) state chairman, Tanko Beji; commissioners and special advisers attended the special prayer.
