Yobe Emir Leads Special Prayer over Delayed Rainfall
The Emir of Bade in Yobe State, Alhaji Dr. Abubakar Umar Suleiman, on Sunday led a special prayer for rain in Gashu’a as residents sought Allah’s intervention over the delayed onset of rainfall. The prayer, which entered its second day, was held at the Tanda prayer ground and was attended by the Chairman of Bade […]
The Emir of Bade in Yobe State, Alhaji Dr. Abubakar Umar Suleiman, on Sunday led a special prayer for rain in Gashu’a as residents sought Allah’s intervention over the delayed onset of rainfall.
The prayer, which entered its second day, was held at the Tanda prayer ground and was attended by the Chairman of Bade Local Government Area, Islamic scholars, district and ward heads, community leaders and hundreds of worshippers.
During the prayer, the congregation offered supplications, asking Allah to send beneficial rainfall, bless the land with abundant harvests, increase prosperity and protect the people from drought and other calamities.
The emir urged residents to remain steadfast in worship, seek Allah’s forgiveness, promote unity and continue to live peacefully with one another, saying these were among the virtues that attract Allah’s mercy.
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Similarly, the Chairman of the Jama’atu Izalatul Bid’ah Wa’iqamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS) in Yobe State, Sheikh Haruna Ibrahim Shina, led another congregation in a special prayer for rain at the Izala Mosque along Yusufari Road in Gashu’a.
Also, Mallam Sagiru Dake Zango led worshippers in a separate prayer session, where prayers were offered for abundant rainfall and a successful farming season.
The worshippers prayed for Allah to bless Yobe State with sufficient rainfall, avert drought, grant farmers a productive season and continue to bless Nigeria with peace and stability.
Daily Trust gathered that the delayed rainfall in Yobe has slowed farming activities, leaving many farmers unable to begin cultivation and depriving farm labourers of their major source of income.
Unlike previous years, when the rainy season would fully establish across most parts of the North-East by late July, rainfall has remained erratic this year, forcing many farmers to postpone planting.
A visit by our correspondent to the area opposite the Family Support Hospital in Damaturu showed scores of farm labourers gathered at their usual pick-up point early in the morning, hoping to be hired.
Many, however, returned home without work as farming activities remained limited.
The labourers said the delayed rains had drastically reduced employment opportunities, raising concerns over the impact of changing weather patterns on agriculture and rural livelihoods.
“At this time in previous years, we would already be working on farms every day,” one of the labourers said.
“This year, many farmers have suspended farming, while others are waiting for more rainfall before planting. We spend hours here every morning without getting any work.”
Some farmers also attributed the slow pace of farming to losses recorded during the last harvest season, when a sharp drop in food prices left many unable to recover their production costs.
One of the farmers, Bukar Abba, said many farmers were still struggling to recover from last year’s losses.
“We had a bumper harvest last year, but the prices of our produce fell sharply. Many of us could not recover the money we invested, and now the delayed rains have made the situation even worse,” he said.
Another farmer, Adamu Mustapha, said the rising cost of fertilizer, high transportation expenses triggered by increased fuel prices and persistent farmer-herder conflicts were also discouraging many people from farming.
“Fertilizer is now beyond the reach of many farmers. Transportation has become more expensive because of the increase in fuel prices, while insecurity in some farming communities continues to pose a serious challenge,” he said.
Experts have warned that climate change is making farming increasingly unpredictable, with some parts of the country experiencing devastating floods while others face prolonged dry spells.