Maiduguri: No bombs, no Sallah fun

Last Sunday, like their counterparts in most parts of the world, residents of Maiduguri marked Sallah, which signifies the end of month of Ramadan but without the usual celebrations as witnessed in other climes.In Kano, teenage female suicide bombers deployed by members of the dreaded Boko Haram insurgents marred the celebration, killing at least three […]

Last Sunday, like their counterparts in most parts of the world, residents of Maiduguri marked Sallah, which signifies the end of month of Ramadan but without the usual celebrations as witnessed in other climes.
In Kano, teenage female suicide bombers deployed by members of the dreaded Boko Haram insurgents marred the celebration, killing at least three people. On the other hand, the event was peaceful in Maiduguri, the infamous birth place of the Boko Haram sect because there was no destruction, targeted killings or suicide missions.
However, the peaceful disposition did not come on a platter of gold because the residents paid a price, no serious visitations to parks, no durbar at the Shehu’s palace and no supplies of basic commodities to the state capital from the localities or other parts of the country. It was indeed a difficult period for residents of the city.
 For three days between Sunday and Tuesday, movement of vehicles was barred by security forces in a step to forestall any attack by insurgents. On Sallah day, which coincided with the day that the Christian faithful go to churches, almost everybody had to trek and those who could not had to remain at home. Many Muslims had no choice but to trek long distances to the praying ground to observe the two Raka’ats.
Weekly Trust correspondents who monitored the situation observed many worshippers going out as early as 7am, trekking to praying grounds of their choice. Christian worshippers also trekked to their places of worship.  
A day before Sallah, spokesman of the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, Col. Muhammed Dole, had in a statement emailed to journalists announced the ban on vehicular movement.
According to the statement, terrorists were planning to unleashed terror on the town and its environs by attacking praying grounds and markets among other places that usually attract large crowds. It added that the terrorists had perfected plans to use vehicles, motorcycles and bicycles to carry out multiple bomb attacks, stressing that this necessitated the ban on vehicular movement the period.         
 Security was overwhelming in the metropolis as military men, including police and operatives of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) mounted checkpoints on major roads.
Youth Vigilantes, also known as civilian JTF youths, were handy in praying grounds at Ramat Square, Federal Low Cost and other locations conducting searches on worshippers.   
One interesting thing about the celebration was that despite the ban on vehicular movement and warning of impending attacks by insurgents, all the praying grounds visited were filled to capacity unlike what transpired in previous years before the gradual return of peace to the metropolis. In the past, such warnings would have made many residents not to come out for the festival. Excitement was visibly noticed on the faces of worshippers despite the fact that they trekked to the Eid grounds.
After the Eid prayers, many families on leaving the praying ground went back home and remained indoors throughout the period. The streets were virtually empty as only few people, mostly children, were seen moving around on the streets.
Business activities were also grounded during the three-day period as shops and business centres along Baga road, Post Office, Babalanyin business district and Bank of the North areas among other strategic places in the metropolis were all under lock and key.
The Monday market, Baga Road market, Abbagana ram market and Budum markets were virtually empty as most traders remained at home. Business was virtually at a standstill for the three-day period.     
At the palace of the Shehu of Borno, there was no durbar apparently due to the ban unlike last year when the Shehu, Alhaji Abubakar Garbai Al-amin El-Kanemi, staged a colourful durbar to the admiration of all.
However, residents paid the annual homage to the Shehu. Different groups filed in to pay their respects and the Shehu in return prayed for the progress and peace of the state.   
At the Borno State government house, attendance at the annual hosting of different groups by Governor Kashim Shettima was low.
Our correspondents learnt that only government officials and the governor’s aides among a few others were able to make it to the Government House due to restriction of movements.
 But despite the ban, there was life at the Sanda Kyari Zoo and the Recreational Park, where hundreds of children went and had fun.
Residents who spoke with Weekly Trust expressed mixed feelings over the three-day ban on vehicular movement in the state capital. Sani Mamuda said: “I think the measure was worthwhile and commendable because it saved lives unlike what happened in places like Kano and Kaduna.”
He added that: “We thank Allah that we did not witness any bad incident during the celebration in Maiduguri and I think that is what matters most and not the inconveniences encountered by the people.”
But Danladi Maina had a different opinion: “I have a reservation over the ban… I am not saying that they should not take measures aimed at saving lives but they should have (exempted) some categories of people who are into essential services like doctors and journalists.”
Some traders who trekked from their homes to open their shops complained that there was low patronage during the period. Tukur Gana, a provisions store owner at the Baga road market, said the ban affected his business unlike during previous Sallah celebrations when he sold more than at any other time.
“I opened my shop throughout the period but the patronage was not encouraging at all,” Gana lamented.
 Another trader, Musa Baba, who sells perishable goods like tomatoes at the Baga road market, lamented that he incurred losses because most of his goods got rotten during the period.
Also, a newspaper vendor in the Damboa road area, who simply gave his name as Goni, said he did not go out throughout the period because newspapers did not come into Maiduguri due to the ban on vehicular movement: “People like me rely on the daily sale of newspapers to feed our families but with the ban on movement, we did not sell for three days and this really affected the welfare of my family.”
Governor Shettima, who said he was traumatised by the situation, sympathised with Maiduguri residents over the tough measures taken with a view to safeguarding their lives and property against imminent attacks by Boko Haram insurgents.
“While we were driving from the Government House to the Eid ground earlier, I was highly traumatised on seeing our parents, uncles, wives, daughters, sons and younger brothers and sisters trekking under the scotching sun in an attempt to observe a very important spiritual rite,” the governor said.
“These people have committed no crime at all… At some point, I was even contemplating whether we should drop from the vehicle in the convoy to walk with these innocent sons and daughters of Borno, who were going through pains on a day they should be excited. My security details would simply not let me walk based on their own professional decisions that I have no power to question,” Shettima added.
“As we approached the Eid ground, I noticed that churches were closed, which denied Christian worshippers as well from practicing their religious rites. The security agencies took the painful decision of keeping vehicles off the road in order to safeguard the life of the innocent citizens who are always the major victims of Boko Haram attacks, they want to ensure that In Shaa Allah, no live is lost throughout this Sallah festival and beyond it,” he noted.
“I empathise with Muslims and Christians whose rights to freely and comfortably drive to their places of worship was curtailed in the overall interest of their individual safety and that of the state. I am very much aware that there are those of our citizens who only get what to feed themselves and their families after going out every day either as traders, transporters or artisans, I know that the restriction of vehicle movement would greatly impede on their source of livelihood. But we all have to be alive before we can do anything at all,” the governor said.
Security forces were indeed happy that the three-day ban on vehicular movement paid-off. The spokesman of the Army 7 Division Col Dole, in a statement announcing the lifting of the restriction, congratulated the people for “the hitch free Sallah celebrations in Maiduguri in particular and other parts of the state.”
He added that: “The Division also wishes to register its profound gratitude and appreciation for the support, cooperation and understanding with due regards to proactive security measures put in place by the Divisional Headquarters to forestall the evil plan of the terrorists to carry out bombings in Maiduguri metropolis during the Sallah celebrations.”