Chairman, Niger Council of Traditional Rulers, and The Etsu of Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, has urged Muslims to intensify prayers during the holy month of Ramadan for the return of permanent peace in Nigeria.
He stated that prayer remains the most effective weapon against any form of challenge.
The Etsu Nupe made the call in a statement Saturday by the palace secretary, Malam Abdulmalik Usman, Rani Nupe, as Muslims began the 1446 A.H. (2025) Ramadan fast on Saturday.
Abubakar said security challenges such as insurgency, banditry and kidnapping would be overcome through fervent prayers by the Muslim faithful in the holy month of Ramadan.
The traditional ruler stated that with prayers, the current security, socio-economic and other challenges facing the country can be solved through divine intervention.
The Etsu Nupe explained that Ramadan was the most auspicious period to offer prayers to Almighty God to provide sustainable solutions to the myriad of problems plaguing the country.
He urged the Muslims in his domain and the country at large to use the holy month to pray for peaceful coexistence, stability, progress of Bida emirate, Niger state and Nigeria.
“Prayers during this holy month will help our leaders and the security agents to overcome all these devilish acts that are bedeviling our country,” he said.
He warned the Islamic preachers against making inciting comments that could provoke public disturbances.
“Religious preachings during this period should aim at maintaining harmonious relationships among the people and nothing should be done to divide the people,” the Etsu Nupe said.
He also appealed to wealthy Nigerians to always assist the less-privileged by providing them with food and cash to ease their hardships.
“People should use their God-given wealth to assist the poor and the widows. This will go a long way to alleviate their sufferings during the Ramadan,” the Monarch said.