President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday joined Muslim faithful for special prayers to mark Eid-el-Fitri, the end of the Ramadan fast.
Buhari, however, did not take part in the Sallah prayers at the National Prayer Ground, located opposite the Military Cemetery on Airport Road, Abuja, as it is customary with top government officials.
This year, the President decided to take part in the prayer session at a prayer ground located inside the Mambilla Military Barracks, Aso Drive, Asokoro, Abuja.
No official reason was given for the decision, which a source described as a “last-minute decision.”
In Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, notable political leaders in the state, were, on Wednesday, absent at the Yidi Prayer Ground, during the Eid-el-Fitri.
Some of the politicians, who were not at the ceremony, included Senate President Bukola Saraki; Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed; Speaker, state House of Assembly, Dr. Ali Ahmad; a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Alhaji Kawu Baraje; members of the national and state assemblies and many government appointees, especially from the Ilorin Emirate.
In Jos, Plateau State, the streets of the state capital and Bukuru metropolis were almost empty as Muslims celebrated the Eid-el-Fitri.
The situation was also compounded by the uncertainty surrounding the actual day of the end of the Ramadan fast.
In Abuja, many people, including top government officials and journalists, who thought the President would pray at the National Prayer Ground as usual, hurriedly left the ground and rushed to the barracks when they finally found out that Buhari would not observe the prayer at the prayer ground.
Buhari was joined at the prayer ground by top government officials, including the Minister of Defence, Masur Dan-Alli.
Security chiefs, including the National Security Adviser, Maj. Gen. Babagana Munguno (retd.), and the acting Inspector-General of Police, Idris Ibrahim, also joined the President’s entourage.
Meanwhile, security was beefed up around the two prayer grounds and other ones across the Federal Capital Territory while the Eid-el-Fitri prayer lasted.
There had been speculations that the Boko Haram sect might carry out attacks during the Eid-el-Fitri.
At the Mogadishu Barracks, along the Abuja-Keffi Expressway, worshippers were seen being frisked before they were allowed access into the prayer arena.
Their cars were also thoroughly searched before they were allowed to park inside the car park behind the barracks’ Mammy Market.
Armed soldiers, attached to the Guards Brigade, policemen and officials of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, maintained visible presence across major areas in the FCT while the prayers lasted.
They were also sighted at major fun spots in Abuja.
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