The paramount ruler of the Borno Emirate, the Shehu of Borno, Abubakar Umar Garbai Ibn El-Kanemi, has directed all residents in the state to embark on a three-day fasting and prayers for God’s divine intervention in ending the continuous attack by the dreaded terrorist group, the Boko Haram.
Insurgency in the North-east region of Nigeria by the group has left many dead and military operation ordered by President Goodluck Jonathan is yet to quell the insecurity.
The three states in the region – Adamawa, Borno and Yobe – have of recent come under severe attack by the group, a situation the monarch said deserved God’s intervention towards ending the killings and destruction of lives and property.
The monarch’s directives, is contained in a statement by his spokesman, Mr Abba Ali, made available to reporters in Maiduguri, the state capital on Monday.
The statement said the three-day fasting will commence on Tuesday and end on Thursday to be followed with Juma’at prayers in mosques and other places of worship across the state.
“I am appealing to all residents of the state to observe a three-day fasting to seek Allah’s mercy toward ending this crisis facing us. I believe we should continue to seek for Allah’s help toward restoring peace in Borno State and the other affected states in the Northeast sub-region of Nigeria,” the statement read.
He however stressed that it was time to seek God’s intervention to the problem and urged residents to commence the fasting on Tuesday.
The ruler also directed that special prayers be held in Mosques and Churches across the state to seek God’s help and urged residents to remain prayerful even after the fasting, so that peace would be restored in the state and the country as a whole.