Tag: Yola

The Emir of Mubi, Alh Dr Abubakar Isa Ahmadu, has returned to the plundered Palace of the Mubi Emirate Council two months after Boko Haram invaded the town and destroyed its economic livewire and burning down of the Mubi International Market along with 28 Churches, some which were built around 1920s.

Joy overwhelmed the people of Mubi town in Adamawa State, who were jubilant on Friday following the return of their Emir, after the military recaptured the town from insurgents. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Isa was in Saudi Arabia as the state Amirul Hajj when insurgents attacked the town in October 12th 2014.

The Boko Haram had renamed the town of Mubi to Madinatul Islam and installed an Amir who had moved into the palace of the Emir of Mubi during the dark days of the town.

The residents lined the streets of Mubi and waved to the emir as he headed for the Mubi Central Mosque.

The residents chanted songs to welcome back the Emir. Buba Ibrahim, who was among those that, trooped out to welcome the Emir, said “This is one of the happiest days of my life and I pray things have normalized for the better.” Hajiya Hauwa Umar Mohammed, who was also excited by the return of the emir, said the emir’s return was symbolic.

“This historic return symbolizes that Mubi has been liberated from the insurgents,” Umar said.

The Emir, who joined other Muslim faithful’s to observe the Jummat prayers at the Mubi Central Mosque, urged the residents to take what happened as the will of God.

Isa called for sustained prayers for lasting peace in the emirate and the nation in the general.

The town had been under attack by members of the Boko Haram sect since October 12th 2014, when the dreaded gunmen overran the town forcing people in thousands to flee across the hills to escape death.

Calm has returned to the town except for the restriction of vehicular movement by the military, many routes were cordoned off while life has started at a small level.

Restricted vehicular movement, worshippers walking long distances to Eid prayer grounds, heavy security and fear of terror attack, yesterday characterized the Eid-el-Kabir festival in Adamawa, Borno, Kano and Yobe states.

The military, citing intelligence report about possible terror attacks during the celebration, ordered vehicles off Borno and Yobe roads until tomorrow.

They advised residents to go for the Sallah prayers at grounds close to their homes.

The order was strictly enforced with armed soldiers and policemen mounting road blocks.

Consequently, worshippers especially those living far away from prayer grounds or had cause to go out had to walk long distances to reach their destinations.

The customary homage which the people usually pay to their traditional rulers was cancelled in many towns and districts.

The durbars that also usually follow the Eid prayers in Kano and Maiduguri were similarly cancelled.

The military task force in Yobe went a step farther on Friday by imposing a travel ban through the holiday weekend.

Motorists were stopped from reaching their families for the celebration.

A message broadcast on public radio in Yobe instructed people “to remain in their towns and villages until Monday to forestall security breaches as we celebrate the Eid” holiday.

“We were turned back just outside (Yobe’s capital) Damaturu this morning. We were told that we couldn’t proceed because there is a lockdown in the whole of Yobe State,” said Muntari Saidu, who was travelling from Maiduguri to Kano.

“We had no option but to turn back. This means I can’t celebrate the Eid al Kabir with my family in Kano,” he told AFP by phone.

The ban blocks private and public vehicles from travelling on roads throughout the state.

A military source in the state said:”We have concrete intelligence that Boko Haram terrorists are planning massive attacks in Borno and Yobe States.”

The celebration was also subdued in Kano, but Emir Muhammad Sanusi II asked Nigerians and Muslims to persistently pray to almighty Allah for peace and stability in the state and the country in general.

Alhaji Sanusi, in his Sallah message,   also charged members of the Emirate Council to always be law abiding and co-exist peacefully with one another for the development of the state and the country.

He told thousands of Muslims shortly after the Eid-El-Kabir prayer held at the Central Mosque to always abide by the dictates of Islam and avoid committing sins.

He enjoined parents to invest in the education of their children, particularly the girls which would be beneficial to them in future.

Similarly, he called on the well-to-do to assist the less privileged during this period to enable them mark the occasion with joy and happiness.

The Deputy Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, urged the people of the state to continue to pray for continuous peace and stability in the state and the country at large.

“We should continue to pray, so as to enjoy permanent peace and stability in the state, the northern part of the country and the country as a whole,” he said.

Security was tight across the metropolis and Yola, the Adamawa state capital.

The roads were generally quiet, 48 hours after insurgents struck in Michika Local Government area of the state, destroying the country home of Youth Development Minister Boni Haruna at Kuburshosho.

Haruna is a former governor of the state.

Also attacked was Garta.

The sect’s insurgency in the state has displaced thousands of people from their homes.

Many of them have fled to Yola.

A onetime deputy governor of the state, Mr. David Barau estimated the number of the displaced people at 10,000.

He said several places including Michika are now ghost towns.

Acting Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State yesterday cancelled the traditional Sallah homage in solidarity with the victims of Boko Haram insurgency.

His spokesman, Solomon Kumanga, said in a statement quoted his principal as saying “It is unfortunate that the insurgence has continued despite the doggedness of the Nigerian military to bring it down.”