Residents of Borno State are scheduled to begin a three-day fast to seek divine intervention in the face of renewed violence by the deadly Boko Haram Islamist sect.
The Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn-Garbai, who issued the directive on Monday in Maiduguri, the state capital, said the fast is to ask for Allah’s help in restoring peace to the state.
“I am appealing to all residents of the state to observe a three-day fasting to seek Allah’s mercy towards ending the crisis facing us”, he said.
“I believe we should continue to seek for Allah’s help toward restoring peace in the state”. He added.
The monarch decried the human and material devastation caused by the renewed killings by insurgents, saying there can be no other time to seek God’s face than now.
Although he said special prayers would be held in mosques and churches during the fasting period which is expected to end on Thursday, he further implored residents to remain relentless in their prayers afterwards.
Meanwhile, Volunteer Vigilance Youth Groups also known as Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) in Borno State have pleaded for the material and financial support of the Federal Government to strengthen the contribution of its members towards the maintenance of peace in the state.
Spokesperson of the group, Mr. Iliasu Saidu said that while provision of vehicles would facilitate the easy movement of the Civilian JTF’s 2,500 plus members across the state, an allowance would serve as a steady source of livelihood while also motivating them for the challenges ahead.
“Borno is Nigeria and the people fomenting violence and the killings are Nigerians”, said Saidu, who revealed plans of the state government to recruit another 1,500 youths to the civilian group.
“If we can have assistance from the Federal Government, it will help us to achieve peace. Borno is a beautiful state that must not be taken over by hoodlums”.
