An Islamic Cleric, Saidu Jahun, has admonished Muslim faithful against using ill-gotten money to buy ram or cow for the Eid-el-Kabir sacrifice.

Mr Jahun said that Muslims were encouraged to sacrifice animals bought through legitimate means.

According to him, the sacrifice is performed between the 10th and 12th day of the month of Dhul-Hijjah.

“The ritual is in memory of the sacrifice performed by Prophet Ibrahim.

“It involves the slaughtering of a domestic animal such as ram, sheep, goat, cow or camel,” he said.

Meanwhile, less than seven days to the Eid-el-Kabir celebration, prices of ram and other animals have skyrocketed in Bauchi.

A survey carried out by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at Kasuwar Shanu and other markets in the metropolis on Monday showed that prices of ram had shot up by over 120 per cent.

Various sale outlets had sprung up in various parts of the metropolis occasioned by high patronage of the animals for the festivities.

Ram, cow and other animals are in high demand for the sacrifice by Muslim faithful during the Eid-el-Kabir celebration.

A ram dealer, Musa Sabo, said the prices were on the increase due to the high cost of feed and transportation.

Mr Sabo said that the prices would further go up in view of the high demand amid the low supply of animals to the market.

“We spent much on transportation of the animals from Borno, Yobe and Sokoto to Bauchi.

“The high cost of feeds and transportation translated to soaring prices of ram this year,” he said.

Another ram dealer, Umar Baba, who described the trade as “lucrative,” said the supply of animals to the state had decreased in the past few years due to security challenges in parts of the West African sub-region.

“Cows and rams are no longer coming from Niger and Chad Republic due to security challenges.

“The trend led to price hikes because the demand outweighed supply,” he said.

Alheri Adam, a boutique operator, attributed the increase in the price of clothing materials to the high rate of foreign exchange.

“We don’t know how to explain this to customers. The wrapper which previously sold at N8,000 now costs N12,000.

“The major dealers complained of FOREX and high cost of production in the country.

“I am not making good sales now,” she said.

A cross-section of the residents, however, accused the traders of taking advantage of the Eid celebration to exploit customers.

Ali Wunti, a resident, said that he bought a ram at the cost of N60,000.

Mr Wunti said that the same size of ram cost N25,000 during the previous festive season and accused the traders of the price hike.

“The sellers are taking advantage of the Sallah celebration to exploit buyers,” he said.

Another resident, Garba Saidu, corroborated the development and said most families in the area could not afford to slaughter ram for the Sallah due to the exorbitant price of rams at markets.

He urged the traders to reduce the prices to enable more families to celebrate Eid in a happy mood.