Stories by Ibrahim Abdul’Aziz
Mina,Saudi Arabia
Disturbed by insurgency and ethno-religion crisis plaguing their states, pilgrims from Borno and Taraba states performing this year’s pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, said they offered special prayers to God for an end to Boko Haram insurgency and other vices in Nigeria.
They said they did not only pray for themselves, their immediate families and friends while performing the pilgrimage but asked God to restore peace, harmony and progress in all parts of Nigeria, particularly in Borno and Taraba states.
The Executive Secretary of Taraba state Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alh.Habibu Al-Maki said that as citizens of Nigeria and indigenes of Borno and Taraba, had a responsibility to wish their states and Nigeria well by offering special prayer for the general progress of the nation.
“We had organized special prayers, we prayed for peace to reign. We prayed that the Boko Haram, which is a problem in Nigeria that God should put an end to it and the problem of armed robbery, kidnapping, killings as well as the ethno -religious conflicts been witnessed in the recent time,’’ he said.
Also in an interview, Adamawa state Amirul Hajj, Emir of Mubi Alh.Abubakar Isa Ahmadu, said they offered special prayers for the progress of Nigeria in general.
He stated that pilgrims from the state also offered special prayers for peace to reign in all parts of Nigeria while performing the Hajj rites.
“During these Holy rites we offered prayers for our state and country as a whole.
“We joined many other Nigerians in praying for Nigeria; for the peace of the country; for the progress of the country; for the unity of the various people of the country and we prayed that God would continue to bless Nigeria and that we work together for the development of the country in spite of all the diversities we have as a people and as a country.’’
Our correspondent in Mina had observed that thousands of Nigerian pilgrims, who had successfully performed Satan stoning in Mina, had started heading to Mecca for circumblating while many of the pilgrims interviewed, however, indicated their intention to continue praying for their states.
