Sweet memories of Sallah past in Borno

Despite being a Christian, it didn’t make any difference and had always been sweet to wake up to the aromatic air of fresh cooking on the eve of Sallah, or  Eid el Adha. Good meal does not discriminate. Born in the capital of Borno State, Maiduguri, to a Christian family, we have always wined and […]

Despite being a Christian, it didn’t make any difference and had always been sweet to wake up to the aromatic air of fresh cooking on the eve of Sallah, or  Eid el Adha. Good meal does not discriminate. Born in the capital of Borno State, Maiduguri, to a Christian family, we have always wined and dined with our Muslim brothers and sisters, and it was always been part of the celebration to visit friends and relations during the festive period.
The insurgency in the North East, especially Maiduguri suddenly intruded and changed our normal life. Few Sallah days in the immediate past were like being in a prison. You couldn’t visit your friends or fellowshipped with the preferred ones.
The state government imposed curfew for the safety of all. You could never tell when next or where next the marauding suicide bombers and mass murderers would attack. Despite the inconvenience, many of us believe the restriction is the right step in the right direction. Better to be at home than to attend another senseless mass burial during such holy periods.
Many Nigerians are questioning the rationale behind relocating the command and control centre to Maiduguri, a move appeared to have little impact on the senseless killings. Others thought that the decision came too late.
The sweet sound of the big drums and rhythmic flow to the Shehu’s palace, and the great many menus of the Kanuri tradition can no longer go round. The colourful horse riding by skilled horsemen as well as traditional rulers during homage-paying would have to wait for another era.
One can only imagine how empty the large highways inside Maiduguri would be for the next twenty four hours. I did a mental survey: Bama Road to Airport Road; Baga Road to Dikwa Road, would be empty space in the city.
Many would shed tears to discover that this heartland of commercial business between Chad, Niger, Cameroun and other Central African nations is either dead or life-support. The media never wrote about the volume of commercial activities and turnover on agriculture that is now dead from the Boko Haram insurgency.
Twice a week, more than two hundred trucks leave in convoy through Bama and Gamboru with essential goods that the neighbouring countries would need. Until the escalation of the crisis, there was never-ending stream of traders from these countries that has translated into livelihoods for many traders from all over the country and many families from across the nation settled in Maiduguri.
Unique is perhaps the University of Maiduguri, the presence of which has attracted students from all over Nigeria. Everyone feels they are at home with many graduates usually returning later either to settle in Borno or became supplies of food items to other parts of Nigeria.
 Harvest time was always a glorious time. From red beans to groundnuts, dry fish from Lake Chad to dry season farming, when onions, tomatoes, carrots and cabbages are harvested and delivered to dealers in trucks for onward sale in many of Nigeria’s southern states.
It would take decades to return this lovely region to its glorious status. All we can do now in our homes is to sit back, hope and pray that there wouldn’t be harsh ring tones (bomb explosions).
Lois Oliver Ndirmbita, University of Maiduguri