Defence cautions Muslims against ‘terrorist beggars’ as Ramadan begins

• Sultan urges Nigerians to embrace peace, unity
• Tambuwal, Fayemi, Wamakko greet faithful
• Kano to spend N340m on feeding

As the holy month of Ramadan begins, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) yesterday urged Muslims to be vigilant and be wary of strange beggars around mosques during prayers to prevent suspected attacks from Boko Haram terrorists.

Borno State NSCDC Commandant, Mr. Ibrahim Abdullahi, who made the call in Maiduguri, said people must be wary of “people in tattered clothes, who disguise as beggars in Mosques, but who are actually Boko Haram terrorists
trying every ploy to penetrate gatherings to perpetrate havoc.”

“Any Mosque you go, there are always regular destitute who normally come around and beg, we are not referring to those ones but any new face seen around should be sent away immediately. Security is collective responsibility of all, the public must assist the security agencies to fish out evil perpetrators in the society.’’

Meanwhile, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, spiritual leader of Nigeria’s estimated 74.6 million Muslims yesterday called on Nigerians to embrace peace and unity for even development of the country.

Abubakar, the President-General, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, making the call on Saturday in Sokoto during the launching of two books on the sighting of the month of Ramadan authored by a Sokoto-based Islamic cleric, Malam Bashir Sani said, “it is only by embracing peace and unity in the society that we can achieve the desired needs and development of our country.”

Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal represented by his Commissioner of Religious Affairs, Alhaji Mani Maishinko, also urged peaceful living amongst Nigerians, called on Muslims to use the books wisely.

“This is in order to ensure peace and unity among the entire society and also support the government to generate more income when peace reigns in the country.”

He promised that the current administration in the state would continue to support Scholars in their efforts to publish books.Speaking earlier, Senator Aliyu Wamakko (APC- Sokoto North), called on people to support government and traditional leaders in all possible ways.

In Kano State, Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje yesterday approved N340 million for 2016 Ramadan free feeding programme that is commencing today.

The free meal programme designed to run through the days of Ramadan meant to feed less privilege across selected centers in the state.Also, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has congratulated Muslims in Ekiti State and Nigeria in general as they commence another season of Ramadan.