The police command in Borno State says the Maulud celebration in Maiduguri was peaceful, with no major security incidents recorded.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the command, Nahum Daso, stated this on Tuesday in Maiduguri.

Mr Daso attributed the peaceful conduct of the celebration to early preparations, strategic deployment of personnel and the cooperation of Muslim leaders and worshippers.

He said the command deployed about 150 officers from four police divisions within the Maiduguri metropolis to provide security and maintain law and order throughout the celebration.

He added that the Muslim faithful also complied with security measures and conducted themselves peacefully during the gathering.

“The Maulud celebration was successful. No ugly incident was recorded. This is largely due to the cooperation received from Muslim leaders and adherence to the strategies put in place by the command,” Mr Daso said.

The celebration attracted thousands of Tijaniyya adherents to Madinatu mosques in Maiduguri for Dhikr, Salawat and continuous recitation of prayers upon Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

An Islamic Tijaniyya scholar, Sheikh Dalori, who also described the celebration as peaceful, said participants came from Bauchi, Kano, Sokoto, Kogi, Ilorin and other parts of the country, including Senegal, Mali, Ghana, South Africa and Cameroon.

Mr Dalori described Maulud an-Nabi as one of the “biggest annual events for the Tijaniyya community,” saying, “It is an expression of love, gratitude and spirituality rather than merely a birthday celebration.

“The celebration teaches Muslims to offer shukr, or gratitude, to Allah for sending Prophet Muhammad (SAW) as a mercy to mankind.”

The scholar, after leading participants in the recitation of Salatul Fatih and other Salawat, including Allahumma Salli Ala Sayyidina Muhammad, commended security agencies for ensuring a hitch-free celebration.

“Alhamdulillah, we have not witnessed even a single accident,” he added. 

(NAN)