24th February, 2020
Some residents of Maiduguri are observing the special prayer sessions and fast to end insurgency and restore peace to the war-tone Borno.
Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum in a statewide broadcast on Feb. 19, declared Monday (Feb. 24) for fasting and prayer to end the insurgency.
Zulum had called on the people to fast and pray to seek divine intervention for an intensified military offensive against the insurgents and achieve peace in the state.
A resident in Maiduguri, Mr. Mohammed Shehu, said that he fast in response to the declaration by the governor for a special day of prayer seeking divine intervention to end insurgency and restore peace to the state.
Shehu described the action as a positive step to end the insurgency, saying that such prayer is necessary to ensure the successful implementation of the counter-insurgency campaign.
He said: “Today, I fast and intensify prayers for divine intervention to end the crisis bedeviling the state. The governor mobilised us to pray and I will continue to pray for peace to reign.”
The Governor said; “The call for prayers was a strange but necessary decision made based on the popular wish of Borno people.
“Even though this decision is based on the popular demand of our people, some observers may rightly argue that it is a strange call. But then, Borno has been befallen with a strange evil since 2009, and sometimes, strange ailments require strange approaches.
“As your governor, I hereby declare Monday the 24th of February 2020, as a day of devotion to pray for the return of peace in Borno. I intend to fast on that day and I appeal to every one of us in Borno, who can, to join in that simple, but pricelessly rewarding spiritual endeavour.
“I also appeal for the sacrifices of all other well-meaning friends and associates of Borno who can, to join us in fasting on Monday, Insha Allah, for the restoration of peace in Borno State and rest of Nigeria.
“I urge all of us to be steadfast in prayers. But in doing that, we certainly do not need to congregate in open fields for dramas.
“It would also not matter whether we are within or outside Borno State and whether we are at workplaces, markets or not. There will be no public holiday, after all, God is everywhere, at home and at work.
“Let us pray to Him with the purest intention, total devotion, submission, and unwavering faith.”
The governor added that the Shehu of Borno, Abubakar Garbai El-Kanemi, has pledged to mobilise Muslim clerics for the prayer while leaders of the Christian community have also assured of special prayer sessions in churches.