Muslim faithfuls in Ilorin, Kwara State on Sunday joined their counterparts all over the world to mark the festival of sacrifice ( Eid-el Kabir. The ceremony was however low- keyed.
Though, the state government commenced payment of June salary to workers and pensioners in the state since Thursday, not many people including civil servants could afford the exorbitant prices of the animals recommended for slaughter.
A senior civil servant in the state, Mal. Sule Ayodeji lamented, ” I couldn’t buy a ram, the price is too exorbitant. Though, our June salary had been paid, the balance of my salary after various remittances was not enough to buy a ram.”
Another civil servant, Alh Musa Salahu said, ” Things are not easy at all. Though, our salaries have been paid, my total salary was not even enough to buy a ram. Don’t forget, we must still buy food for the family for a whole month. I couldn’t sacrifice a ram or goat. We thank God for sparing our lives to witness the festival.”
The vice chairman of Kwara State Association of Ram, Goat and Sheep Sellers at Mandate Market, Mr Musa Kannike explained that the importation of ram into the north from other countries was hindered due to numerous challenges.
He explained that despite the high cost, ram sellers at the Mandate Market had lower prices to encourage customers.
“We have brought down the prices with some ram even going for between N100,000 and N400,000 to make them more affordable for our customers,” he said.
Market survey that I conducted showed that a medium-size ram that was sold for about N70,000 last time was sold for between N110,000 and N120,000 this time around.
Most people later opted for the purchase of cows as the Islamic law permits seven persons to jointly share a cow for Eid Adha.
Meanwhile, an Islamic preacher, Imam AbdulRazaq Mahmud Karebu, had during a sermon before the sallah celebration, cautioned Muslims against lending money or taking loan to buy animals for sacrifice.
He said the sacrifice is compulsory for only those who could afford it.
Imam Karebu warned that the desired reward for sacrificing animal might be elusive if anyone borrowed money to buy a ram or buy it on credit.
In his sermon at the Ilorin Eid praying ground, the chief Imam of Ilorin, Sheikh Mohammed Bashir Salihu, enjoined Muslims to always work for peace and co- habit peacefully with other members of the society.
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