Six Years After Ban, Maiduguri Residents Enjoy Movements On Sallah Day

For the first time in six years, residents of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital celebrated a religious festival without restrictions of movements.
States in the North East particularly Borno, Yobe and Adamawa have in the past six years been under insurgents’ attacks, including several suicide bombing attacks in public places like mosques, churches. Of recent is the failed attack by twin female suicide bombers at the Damboa Road Mosque in Maiduguri during Muslims night prayers.
The Borno State Government announced on Monday that there will be no restrictions of movement within and outside the state during this year’s Eid-el-Fitri celebration.
Governor Kashim Shettima made the announcement shortly after an emergency meeting with the State Security Council in Maiduguri.
Shettima was quoted as saying “after extensive deliberation will core members of the State Security Council and after weighing all the options and taking a helicopter surveillance of the state capital and assessing the security situations, we have resolved not to restrict movement of persons or vehicles in the state during this year’s sallah celebrations
“We have equally resolved not to restrict entry or exit into Maiduguri and other parts of the state during the Sallah,” Shettima added.
The governor urged the people of the state to be vigilant and reports suspicious movements to security agents near them.
This development is coming barely days after Nigerian Army celebrated it day with sanitation exercise in the famous Maiduguri Monday market and environs. The sanitation exercises was jointly organised by the Nigerian Army and the Borno State Environmental Protection Agency (BOSEPA) for the first time in six years for fear of Boko Haram terrorists attack.
The Dream Daily correspondent in Maiduguri who spoke with some residents of the state capital on the lifting of the ban on Sallah Day reported that the residents applauded the gesture.
Ado Mai Shago said he was glad when the news of the uplift reached him. As a businessman, he said he could now continue with his businesses without hitches “.
A student of Ramat Polytechnic, Maiduguri Gabchiya Ibrahim commended the security personnel for winning the war against the insurgents and prayed for President Muhammadu Buhari to succeed.
The Dream Daily visited the usually busy Post Office area where thousands of young people gathered to celebrate the day with dancing competitions and traditional boxing (Dambe), among other recreational activities.