By Muhammad Sabiu
The troops saddled with the responsibility of maintaining peace and order due to the fragile peace in Plateau State have declared that there would be no Maulud procession across the state this year.
The Troops, also codenamed as Operation Safe Heaven, have in a statement signed by their spokesperson, Major Ishaku Takwa, said they had been directed “to ensure that no group organises any form of procession during the period of the Maulud.”
According to the statement, “Operation Safe Haven has noted the arrangement by some Muslim Youths on the Plateau to hold a procession to commemorate the birth of Prophet Muhammad SAW (PBUH) on Tuesday, 19 October 2021.
“Information received also indicated that the procession is organised without the knowledge of Jamaatul Nasir Islam (JNI), security agencies and the Plateau state government.
Nevertheless, the troops indicated that “While felicitating with the entire Muslim ummah on the birth of Prophet Muhammad SAW (PBUH) and recognising the right to such processions under different circumstances, it is, however, expedient to state that the fragile peace on the Plateau does not present a conducive atmosphere for any form of procession at the moment.
“Further to this, Operation Safe Haven, therefore, wishes to draw the attention of the youths and members of the public on the ban of any kind of protest and procession in force in the state.
“The Military task force encourages Muslim faithfuls to observe the Maulud without any form of procession.
“The Commander, Operation Safe Haven, Major General Ibrahim Ali has directed troops to ensure that no group organises any form of procession during the period of the Maulud.”
Recall that there were in recent months a series of ethno-religious violent attacks and reprisals that led to the death of many and many others sustained injuries.