BOKO HARAM FEARS CANCEL I`ITIKAF IN NIGERIA

Kano, Nigeria, 24 Ramadan 1436/11 July 2015 (MINA) – Many mosques across Nigeria’s northern region are cancelling the annual I’itikaaf session and all-night prayers in search of the Night of Power (Laylatul Qadri) for security reasons as Boko Haram militants have increasingly targeted mosques and other soft targets.

“For security reasons, we have decided to cancel the I’itikaaf (seclusion) this year. You will recall that just last week, it was by Allah’s grace that many people escaped being massacred here by a female suicide bomber,” Muhammad Abdullah,  a scholar at the Umar Ibn Khattab Central mosque on Zaria Road Kano, told Onislam.net, quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) on Saturday.

He confirmed that similar steps are being taken across other major mosques “purely for security reasons.”

“We pray to Allah to return peace to our land and destroy all the elements who are waging this violence. As Muslims, we will continue to pray to Allah to grant us victory over the evil people behind the violence.”

At the Ibn Khattab mosque in Kano, a female suicide bomber attempted to blow up worshipers last week but was repelled by vigilant members of the Muslim community. She ended up killing herself and injuring a few others.

Suicide bombers have targeted at least three mosques in the northern region since Ramadan started. The bloodiest was the last Sunday suicide blast in north central Jos town where 44 people were confirmed killed in a mosque and a nearby restaurant.

The Kano branch of the Nasrul-Lahi-L-Fatih Society (NASFAT), one of the biggest Islamic organizations in Nigeria and West Africa, has announced cancellation of its open-field annual Night of Power prayer in the regiom, citing security concerns.

“Due to security situation in the state, our supposed Laylatul Qadri has been cancelled (this year).  May Allah be with us,” the organisation said in a terse statement to the public. (T/P001/R03)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)