Jigawa Farmers Hold 3-Day Prayer for Rainfall Amidst Drought

Residents of Basirka town in Gwaram Local Government Area of Jigawa State have held a three-day special prayer for rainfall following a prolonged dry spell that has left farmlands withering.

The prayers, known as Salatul Istisqa, began on Saturday and continued through Sunday and Monday, with residents also observing a voluntary fast on Monday to seek divine intervention.

Hundreds of residents, including farmers, Islamic clerics, elderly men and women, and youths, gathered at the Basirka Eid ground for the special prayer.

The development comes amid concerns over poor rainfall distribution in parts of northern Nigeria, even as some southern states have experienced heavy rainfall and flooding.

Farmers in the affected communities, many of whom depend on rain-fed agriculture, have expressed concern over the impact of the dry spell on their crops and livelihoods.

Leading the two-rak’ah prayer on Monday, the Chief Imam of Basirka, Sheikh Sanunu Basirka, urged residents to seek Allah’s forgiveness, intensify prayers and return to righteous conduct.

He said the community had conducted the prayer on Saturday and Sunday before repeating it on Monday, alongside the voluntary fast.

“We have gathered here today at the Eid ground to sincerely repent and ask Allah to forgive us and bless us with abundant rainfall that will bring mercy and prosperity to our land,” he said.

The cleric described the lack of rainfall as a test from Allah and urged residents to give charity and desist from actions that could attract divine punishment.

He also reminded the residents of the Islamic teaching that sincere repentance and seeking forgiveness could attract Allah’s mercy and rainfall.

The prayer was attended by residents from Basirka and neighbouring communities, with men, women and children seen gathered under the scorching sun, raising their hands in supplication for rainfall.

A 65-year-old farmer, Ibrahim Musa Dankoli, said his maize and millet farms were drying up because of the prolonged lack of rain.

“We have not had good rainfall for weeks, and our crops have started burning. We have no power except to return to Allah for help,” Dankoli said.

Another resident, Haruna Aliyu Basirka, said the situation had heightened anxiety among farmers in Gwaram Local Government Area.

“We are worried because this is the middle of the farming season but the rains have seized. That is why we came out today to pray together for Allah’s mercy,” he said.

Similarly, a youth leader in the community, Sulaiman Adamu Basirka, said the special prayer was organised after residents observed changes in the weather pattern.

“We came out here as one community, old and young, men and women, to beg Allah to send us beneficial rain that will save our farms and provide water for our animals,” he said.