League of Imams and Alfas, Osun, others cancelled Eid-il-Kabir congregational prayer

The association of Muslim clerics, League of Imams and Alfas of South West, Edo and Delta States led by Sheikh Jamiu Bello-Kewulere has announced the cancellation of Eid-il-Kabir prayer across the region. The cancellation comes against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The annual festival of Muslims across the world will also be affected by the virus that has continued to ravage the world since the beginning of this year. The festival, which comes up on the 10th day of Dhul-hijja (twelfth month of the Islamic calendar) annually corresponds with Friday, 31st July this year.

On Sunday, 24th May, Eid-il-Fitri which marked the end of Ramadan fast, suffered the same fate when it was also cancelled for fear of the pandemic. 

The league of Imams and Alfas, however, urged Muslims to pray at home with their families and urged the Muslim faithful to sacrifice their animals between 9:30 am and 10 am.

Similarly, the Osun State Government has warned residents of the state to desist from congregating for Eid prayers, citing the growing number of COVID-19 cases in the state as the reason why. The state government, however, said Jumah prayer will hold across the state on the same day since the Eid comes up on a Friday. The state government, therefore, urged Muslims to adhere strictly to the safety measures laid down by the government in observance of the weekly Jum’ah prayer. 

On the 24th of May at a press conference, the Kwara State Deputy Governor, Kayode Alabi, also announced the decision of the Kwara State Government to suspend the Eid congregational prayer throughout the state. The Deputy Governor, in his speech, reeled out the statistics of COVID-19 cases in the state. The press conference was attended by members of the State Executive Council as well as Muslim leaders.

However, in Kano, there will be Eid congregational prayer across the under strict adherence to COVID-19 safety protocols. Although, the state government cancelled other festivities across the state.