By Our Correspondent
In a heartfelt move to honour the memory of hundreds who lost their lives in the recent catastrophic flooding in Mokwa, Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umar Bago, has directed that this year’s Eid-el-Kabir celebrations across the state be marked quietly, without the usual fanfare and pageantry.
The order affects all eight emirate councils in the state, where traditional Sallah events like the Hawan Bariki and Durbar are annual spectacles.
This year, however, there will be no parades, no colourful horse rides, and no royal processions ,only solemn prayers and silent reflection.
The decision was contained in an official statement from the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Abubakar Usman, who explained that the governor’s directive was in recognition of the scale of devastation wrought by the recent flooding in Mokwa and the deep sorrow it has brought upon the people.
“Governor Umaru Bago has directed a low-key Eid-el-Kabir Sallah celebration, suspension of Hawan Bariki, Durbar and other elaborate Sallah activities across all Emirates in the State,” the statement read.
According to the SSG, the Mokwa flood disaster, regarded as one of the worst in Niger State’s history, claimed nearly 200 lives, displaced thousands, and obliterated homes, farmland, and livelihoods.
The floods followed several days of intense rainfall, which led to the overflowing of the River Niger and surrounding water bodies, submerging villages, cutting off roads, and leaving behind a humanitarian emergency on a scale the state had not witnessed in decades.
In response, Governor Bago has not only suspended festivities but is also appealing to residents of Niger State to use the occasion of Eid to pray fervently for the repose of the departed and for the healing of the affected communities. He encouraged people to extend love and charity to the victims, particularly those now sheltering in temporary camps and depending on the goodwill of others.
“This is not a time for celebration,” the SSG quoted the governor as saying. “It is a time for mourning, for unity, and for compassion. Let us stand together as one family — as Nigerlites, to comfort those in pain, to support those who have lost everything, and to remember those whose lives were cut short.”
Humanitarian efforts are currently underway, with emergency responders, non-governmental organizations, and community volunteers working to provide food, shelter, and medical care to displaced persons. Yet the need remains overwhelming.
In the spirit of Eid, the governor called on wealthy individuals, religious bodies, corporate organizations, and well-meaning citizens to donate generously to the relief effort, stressing that rebuilding lives and communities will require sustained collective effort.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
