Eid-el-Fitri: Jos, Kano spared by terrorists

Jos, the Plateau state capital, was calm and peaceful today as Muslims celebrated the Eid-el-Fitr festival to mark the end of the Ramadan fasting period.

And so too was Kano, the commercial capital of Northern Nigeria where a century old Durbar festival was cancelled on account of the ill-health of the traditional ruler, Emir Ado Bayero. On January 20, bombers from the Boko Haram sect had attacked the city on many fronts, killing close to 200 people.

In Jos, what was missing was that the festivity was without the fun and fanfare usually associated with it.

“People are generally in their houses and celebrating in their vicinities; everywhere is calm, peaceful and quiet,’’ Capt. Salisu Mustapha, spokesman of the military Special Task Force (STF) on peace in Plateau said.

He said that reports from STF field officers had also confirmed that everywhere was orderly with no report of any disturbance from any quarters.

NAN correspondents observed some gaily dressed youths visiting some play grounds especially around Rikkos, Gangare and Ungwan-Rogo areas, while the normal sharing of food among families was being carried out.

The STF had made adequate security preparations for the festival by blocking some major highways in the state capital, forcing many people to trek long distances to their places of worship.

Security officials were also stationed along major highways, while vehicles plying the roads were thoroughly checked. (NAN)

The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, has charged leaders to show empathy to their subjects, while the subjects should be obedient to their leaders.

The emir gave the charge in his Sallah message which he read in his palace shortly after returning from Eid prayer.

Bayero said that both leaders and subjects had responsibility to each other and advised the people to have good intentions toward one another.

The emir also urged the people to continuously pray for peace and advised them to have faith in God.

He, however, prayed for a fruitful rainy season and good health for all Kano citizens as well as Nigerians at large.

The Chief Imam of Kano, Professor Sani Zahraddeen prayed for peaceful co-existence among citizens of the country.

In his Eid-el-Fitr sermon, he stressed the importance of peace and how Islam has always emphasised it.

He said there was need for people to continuously pray for the restoration of peace in Kano and the country at large.

The cleric, who is also an academic, prayed for improvement in the education of the youth and for the good health of the Emir of Kano.