By Khalid Idris Doya
On Friday, 26th December, 2014, Ameer of Bauchi, Malam Ahmad Yashi accompanied by an entourage visited victims of the recent Bauchi central market bomb attack, and condoled them over the incident.
The bomb attack on the market, which occurred last week killed many people and injured many, as well as loss of property amounting to millions of naira.nThe team was received by the head of the market traders association in its office.
Malam Yashi explained the purpose of the visit, which was to sympathize with the traders and all affected people over the tragedy, which he said has affected the whole society. “This is in answer to the Holy Prophet’s Hadith that enumerated the obligation of a Muslim on his fellow Muslims one of which to identify with him in the period of calamities”.
He drew attention of the people to cripple the Northern region, where majority of Nigerian Muslims reside through various strategies, such as destruction of its educational and economic systems.
The Islamic scholar also cited the case of attack on cattle market in Potiskum, adding that by attacking markets at the peak of economic activities, they were also targeting the people at the same time.
“The whole aim is to wipe away the people and all traces of their history. I therefore call on you to be more security conscious, establish security checkpoints. Let there be open and secret security at work. Plan your activities with or without government’s support. Above all, intensify prayer, for that is the greatest weapon”, he advised.
He prayed to Allah to grant the deceased eternal rest, the injured a quick recovery; for those who lost their property, he prayed to Allah to replace the loss with bounties from His treasury.
Responding, head of the traders’ association, Alhaji Adamu Noma thanked the delegation for the visit, saying that the visit was a morale booster towards improved security network in the market.
He requested that their gratitude be extended to the Leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky, for identifying with them in the period of grief and calamity, through the delegation.
Malam Yashi and the entourage, accompanied by the traders, went round the market and inspected the damages, and finally visited the injured at the Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital.