By Olukayode Michael, Maiduguri
Borno Governor, Professor Babagana Umara has called for prayers for those in the trenches fighting Boko Haram.
The governor, in his Eid-el-Kabir message, said the festival should be dedicated and used to offer to soldiers, other armed forces, the Civilian JTF, hunters and vigilantes who despite the festivities, are currently in front lines, making sacrifices in fighting Boko Haram insurgents.
He said many are currently engaging Boko Haram through ground and air operations, particularly around northern Borno, in a continued determination to fully regain peace, and they need to be prayed for by all.
In the Sallah message, sent to our e-mail by the Special Adviser on Public Relations and Strategy, Malam Isa Gusau, the governor said: “With the Eid-el-Kabir being about faith and sacrifices in obedience to Allah, citizens should without losing focus on spiritual essence, also reflect very deeply, that even as we all gather in exciting congregations, share moments with our loved ones, exchange visits and gifts with families and friends, there are soldiers, policemen, other armed forces in the paramilitary and the DSS, volunteers from the Civilian JTF, hunters and vigilantes who are in war fronts sacrificing their safety, sacrificing proximity to their loved ones and sacrificing all the Sallah excitements mainly to ensure that those of us who celebrate the festivities, do so in an atmosphere of sustained peace.”
He said: “As we celebrate, each of us owes these patriotic soldiers, other armed forces and volunteers portions of our time to remember and pray that Allah keeps all of them safe and make them consistently victorious over the Boko Haram insurgents.
“Beside prayers, I appeal to citizens to share whatever they can with families of fallen soldiers, policemen, civilian JTF, hunters and vigilantes within their reach, in recognition and appreciation of the sacrifices made by their bread winners to help in Borno’s desperate search for peace.”
The Governor also urged citizens to remember that there are thousands of fellow brothers and sisters, who are celebrating the Sallah outside their communities as a result of displacement inflicted by insurgents.
He said: “Thousands of orphans; hundreds of old and weak women and men will be celebrating the sallah as displaced persons in government camps within Nigeria and as refugees in republics of Niger, Cameroon and Chad. We owe them prayers for permanent peace and restoration of livelihoods in their communities so that insha’Allah, this will be their last Sallah as IDPs and refugees. Aside prayers, we owe them support. I appeal to citizens to extend kinds gestures to displaced persons within their reach.”