The Zazzau Emirate Council has announced the cancellation of the annual durbar celebrations held to mark the end of Ramadan due to security concerns.
The announcement was contained in a statement released by the Council under the leadership of Emir of Zaria, Alhaji Shehu Idris.
The cancellation came after the coordinator of Kaduna State security agency, Operation Yaki, Colonel Yakubu Yusuf warned residents of the state to be vigilant about Boko Haram’s new attack tactics in public places during the forthcoming Sallah celebration.
Yusuf said his organisation had intelligence reports that Boko Haram may use children, hijab-wearing girls and even animals to launch suicide attacks during the sallah holidays.
On Tuesday, June 7, 2015, a bomb explosion masterminded by members of Boko Haram hit a local government headquarters in Zaria, as primary school teachers and public sector staff were undergoing identity checks. Over 20 persons were reported dead in the explosion.
In the wake of the bomb attack, Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, outlawed begging in the state.
Apart from the cancellation of the durbar, eid prayers in many places in the north may not hold publicly due to the activities of Boko Haram.
