Residents of Dapchi flee over fears of Boko Haram attack

On Sunday, residents of Dapchi, headquarters of Bursari Local Government Area of Yobe State, could not hold Eid prayers as majority of the people spent the night in the bush and nearby villages over fears that Boko Haram may attack the town again.

People from a nearby village hinted that Boko Haram militants in a convoy of 11 Hilux vehicles and heavily armed were approaching Dapchi but suddenly changed direction and took the road towards Gumsa.

A resident told reported that as at yes, Dapchi was almost empty as only a few people remained in the town, which was also attacked six days ago by Boko Haram.

“Town is empty now, all of the people have run yesterday into the bush. Some returned this morning but news of sighting Boko Haram in nearby village created fresh panic and people fled again.

Today is supposed to be Sallah (Eid) day of happiness but we are here running for our lives, fleeing danger. No one is even talking about Sallah celebrations,” a resident said.

COVID-19 : Bauchi Emir cancels Sallah

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the horse parade is a tourism event organised by most the Emirs in the North, which attracts thousands of people during the sallah festivities.

Sulaiman said at the stakeholders’ meeting with the State government on Wednesday in Bauchi that the cancellation of the event was necessitated by the global Coronavirus pandemic.

He said the world was faced with the dreaded coronavirus disease which had caused untold hardship to the people.

“We will do everything possible to see that we stop the spread of the virus in our society. Therefore, the annual “ daushe” horse parade is cancelled to ensure adherence to social distancing and discourage all forms of social gathering in the state,” he said.

Islamic scholar advises against Sallah in Kaduna State

The Islamic scholar gave the advice while speaking to newsmen shortly after Gov. Nasir El-Rufai met with some Islamic scholars at the Government House.

He pointed out that the Eid celebration comes up only once in a year, adding that the rate of COVID-19 infections and related deaths were fewer in Kaduna state because of the proactive actions taken by government from the onset of the pandemic.

Gumi noted that unlike other countries where crowds in worship places could be controlled in the event of lifting the lockdown, in Nigeria it would be practically impossible.

“Once you allow people to come and pray, they are going to troop out in thousands you cannot control. The point is that we have stayed for over two months under lockdown; we are afraid that one single day will come and spoil all the gains that we had.

Kaduna is one of the states that have the least infection rates. We can see the rate of the calamity in other northern states like Sokoto, Katsina, Kano, Yobe, Borno, but Alhamdulillah, because Kaduna had gone into lockdown earlier than these states, we have less infection rates. Nobody can deny this fact,’’ he said.

At the meeting, Gumi said that the Islamic scholars had advised the State Government on measures to take regarding the lockdown, adding that it is left for the government to take whatever decision it deemed fit.

Gumi, who is also a medical doctor, advised people to be their brothers’ keepers in these trying times.

He stressed that it was important for political leaders to consult other segments of the society, religious leaders, traditional leaders, professionals, on issues that concern the state.