By Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri
The Eid-el-Fitr festival was celebrated without security hitches in Borno and Yobe States.
Muslim worshippers were however made to go through the pains of trekking to prayer grounds as vehicular movement was outlawed in both states throughout the period of prayers in order to forestall any security breach.
In Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, some worshippers were avoided the stress of the long trek as the government provided free buses at strategic points to convey worshippers to the prayer grounds scattered all over the town.
Delivering a sermon Friday at the Maiduguri Central Eid ground at Ramat Square, Sheikh Adam Alsunisiya (Imam Ideni of Borno) prayed for the return of absolute peace in Borno and urged worshippers to repent of their sins and return to the path of their creator.
He thanked Allah for enabling everyone to witness this year’s Eid-El-Fitr which he described as the most peaceful with unprecedented turnout.
Among dignitries that graced the Ramat Square prayer ground included: Governor Kashim Shettima and the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Garbai Elkanemi, among others.
In Damaturu, the Yobe State capital, Muslim faithful trooped out in large numbers to observe the prayer at the various Eid prayer grounds.
The governor, Ibrahim Gaidam, was accompanied to the Yobe Central Mosque by his Deputy, Abubakar Aliyu, the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mai Mala Buni, the Chief Justice of Yobe State, Justice Garba Nabaruma, the Head of Service of Yobe State Salleh Abubabar and members of the State Executive Council.
The prayers were conducted under tight security.
In his Sallah message, Governor Gaidam said there was sustained security in the state, attributing it to prayers of the people and the resilience of security operatives in the state and the region.
He said that the sustained prayers of good people is what has defeated the insurgency in the state.
He called on the people to use the lessons of Ramadan which instill discipline, truthfulness, patience, humility, devotion and obedience to the Almighty Allah and move those virtues beyond the Ramadan period.
The governor noted that through prayers, the kidnapped Dapchi girls were safely returned except for a few that died in the process, while calling on the people not to recent on their prayers for the total return of peace in the region.
He praised the gallantry of the security forces whom he said fought very hard and made sacrifices to secure the state and the region from the hands of Boko Haram terrorists.
He thank the international non-governmental organisations and other NGOs while calling on them to assist in the recovery and rehabilitation programme of the state as peace has returned.
