Imams in about 350 Jumma’at mosques across Borno state on Friday led thousands of worshipers to offer special prayers for the full recovery of President Muhammadu Buhari, who is on vacation in the UK.
There are 542 Jumma’at mosques in the state but only 350 are estimated to be operating due to security situation in the state.
The prayers were based on a request by Laisu Ahmed, chief imam of the state.
Ahmed mobilised his colleagues after receiving a letter from Kashim Shettima, the governor.
William Naga, chairman of the Christians Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Borno, also got a copy of the letter titled, ‘Request for Intensification of prayers for the complete recovery of Mr President’.
“Last night, Governor Kashim Shettima directed me to write and sign letters requesting the Chief Imam and the CAN to kindly request Imams of all Jumma’at mosques and leading pastors in all churches across Borno state to lead Muslim and Christian worshipers today (Friday) and coming Sunday, to intensify prayers for the quick and full recovery of our dear President, Muhammadu Buhari,” read the letter signed by Mustapha Fannarambe, Borno commissioner for religious affair.
“We believe any good Nigerian living in Borno is already praying for the president, this is why we requested for the prayers to be intensified.”
Fannarambe said the letters were delivered on Friday, and that he had been in touch with both leaders.
“The prayers started today with Jumma’at mosques and we have monitored some here in Maiduguri and Jere and I was informed there were similar prayers in other Jumma’at mosques in Biu, Bayo, Shani, Kwaya-Kusar were residents were never internally displaced and places like Gwoza, Konduga, Monguno, Damboa, Dikwa, Askira, Kaga and many other parts of the state,” Fannarambe said in a statement.
“Prayers were offered in IDP camps where Jumma’at services take place because all the camps have citizens that include existing Imams of Jumma’at Mosques in different parts of the state affected by the insurgency.
“From our estimation, not less than 350 Jumma’at Mosques are currently functional out of 542 that we have across the state. I actually attended one of the Friday prayers in Maiduguri while Governor Shettima went to Bama with the visiting minister of environment.”
