In Maiduguri residents celebrated Sallah in fear

On the Sallah day fear was palpable in the eyes of worshippers as they trooped out to observe the two Rakat prayer.   The presence of heavily armed soldiers on major roads in the metropolis could not restore the confidence of worshippers as they all went back home immediately after the prayer and the streets […]

On the Sallah day fear was palpable in the eyes of worshippers as they trooped out to observe the two Rakat prayer.

 

The presence of heavily armed soldiers on major roads in the metropolis could not restore the confidence of worshippers as they all went back home immediately after the prayer and the streets were deserted.

At the central praying ground in Ramat Square armed soldiers took positions a day before the sallah while roads leading to the prayer ground were cordoned off. The number of security men at the prayer ground was close to that of worshippers at the Square.

Vehicles were not allowed to be parked close to the praying ground, making Muslim faithful trek distances to perform the annual supplication.

As soon as the prayer was over, people ran to the safety of their homes. The streets were conspiciously deserted as people stayed home instead of embarking on the traditional visits that usually mark the occasion due to fear of the unknown.

Social activities on the Sallah day were not what they used to be as people prefered to stay at home while the Sanda Kyarimi zoo which is always a beehive of activities during festivities was deserted by children who always went there to catch fun.

Many parents refused to allow their children to visit the place due to insecurity in town which depleted social activities.

Kolo Grema, a parent, said he decided not to allow his children visit the zoo for fear of the unknown.

“I don’t allow my children to go out due to the insecurity in town. You never can tell what will happen…that is why I decided we should celebrate the festival at home’,’ he said

Surprizingly, on the second day of the sallah dozens of children besieged the zoo to celebrate the festival. Also dozens of them were caught catching fun at the amusement park close to the zoo. The zoo and park are always a beehive of activities during festive periods as large crowds mainly of children converged there to celebrate the festival.

Few days before the festival the Joint Task Force (JTF) in the state issued a warning on plan by the Boko Haram sect to launch attack on sallah day. This added to the fear of residents of the town who witnessed series of bloody attacks carried out by the sect.

Some residents who spoke to Sunday Trust said they only came out to observe the two Rakat prayer. Abubakar Ismail a resident of Mairi ward who said he observed his prayer at the university of Maiduguri praying ground, said ‘’ I only came out to say the two Rakat prayer and quickly flee back home because you never can tell what will happen. People did not come out this year as expected due of fear unlike last year when the insecurity problem had not worsen to this stage”

Another resident, Hajia Hannatu Sulaiman said she and her family stayed at home due to fear of attack. She said “I and my family stays at home this year after the prayer unlike before, we used visit zoo or park during sallah, you will see people trooping to the Shehu’s palace to celebrate with him but now, things have changed”

Sallah without durbar: This year sallah was celebrated without the traditional durbar which is the hallmark of the celebration just like in other northern states. The durbar is a colourful festival culminating in a horse race on the order of an emir. The festival usually begins with prayers followed by a parade of the emir and his entourage on horses and accompanied by local musicians before terminating at the Shehu’s palace.

In Borno emirate, the celebration on every festival had held for ages but the durbar was cancelled this year due to insecurity in town. Some residents who spoke to Sunday Trust said there was nothing to celebrate without the durbar.

Kolo Modu, a resident of Shehuri ward said “the durbar showcases our cultural heritage, it did sad that for two years now it as not hold during festivals. To me the sallah is dull without durbar because I always looked up to this horse display every sallah since I was a small boy.

Though, there was no durbar but the usual homage to the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Umar Garbai Elkanemi was observed by various groups in the state on the second day of the sallah. At this occasion various groups entered in batches to pay respect to the Shehu and for the traditional ruler to pray for them.

Bloody Sallah averted in the town: What would have been a bloody sallah in the town was averted by the spirited efforts of men of the Joint Task Force (JTF) as they intercepted a Toyota Camry car carrying high profile explosives during the sallah holiday.

A security source told Sunday Trust that the car was found around Moduganari area last Monday three hours after the men of the JTF condoned off the area in search of the vehicle.

Our repoter gathered that security forces had been trailing the bomb laden vehicle since Sallah day before it was finally intercepted on Monday.

Spokesman of the JTF, Lt. Col Sagir Musa who confirmed the intercept in a statement said the task force acting on information obtained from arrested Boko Haram suspects caught a heavily and dangerous Improvised Explosive Device inside a Toyota Camry 2001 model with registration number Borno AA 867 MAF.

According to him, the car was intercepted around 6:30pm on Monday at Tudun Wada Quarters in Maiduguri.

“The vehicle was heading to an unknown destination when it was intercepted. The sponsor of the suicide bomber led by a high profile terrorist commander is under surveillance and would soon be arrested by the JTF. This is the deadliest bomb laden vehicle to be arrested by the JTF in Maiduguri. Had the suicide bomber reached its target, fatalities would have been very high’’ Musa said in the statement.

Items recovered from the vehicle, according to him included 4 cylinders, 4 DAF gas oil cylinders, IED’s, and other bomb making materials intended for suicide bombing.