In Kano, Emir Muhammed Sanusi observed the Eid prayers at the central Mosque. In Damaturu, where twin bombings today claimed 50 lives, the new army chief, Major General Tukur Buratai, who was in the town to cheer up the troops also avoided the Eid and observed his prayers at the Damaturu central Mosque.
In Abuja, the wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Muhammadu Buhari, and her three daughters also observed the Eid el-Fitr prayers at the Ansar-Ud-Deen Mosque in the city. President Muhammadu Buhari however worshipped at the Airport Road Eid Praying ground.
Aisha Buhari was received at the Ansar-ud-deen mosque by Alhaja Saudat Dudayemi, the Chairperson, Ansar-ud-Deed Society of Nigeria (ADSN), FCT Chapter, the wife of the FCT Chairman of the association, Alhaja Risikat Yusuf, and other officials.
Others who joined her in the prayer session, were the APC Woman Leader, Dr Ramatu Aliyu, and Dr Hajo Sani, the Senior Special Assistant (Administration) to the wife of the President, among others.
The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II at the Kano Central Mosque called on Nigerians to support the efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari at fighting insurgency to sustain peace in the country.
He said that Nigerians needed peace in the country to fulfil the purpose of God in creating them together with diverse backgrounds.
“These religious, ethnic and cultural differences among others should further unite and not divide Nigerians’’, he said.
Suicide bombs have killed at least 100 people in multiple blasts in the northeastern towns of Gombe and Damaturu, in less than 24 hours, scaring people into staying home during the Muslim Eid al-Fitr celebration.
Two women suicide bombers killed 50 people at two prayer grounds in Damaturu on Friday morning as people were preparing to celebrate the end of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month of fasting.
On Thursday evening, two bombs also killed 50 people buying goods for the holiday at the market in Gombe, according to National Emergency Management Agency spokesman Sani Datti.
Another 75 people were wounded.
They were being treated in two hospitals in Gombe.
Recent attacks also have included the central city of Jos and the northern cities of Kano and Zaria.
The blasts are blamed on Nigeria’s home-grown Boko Haram Islamic extremist group which has launched a string of attacks that have killed hundreds during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which ended Friday.
The upsurge in attacks followed a directive to create more mayhem during Ramadan from the Islamic State group, to which Boko Haram has sworn allegiance.
It also followed the May 29 inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari, who has sworn to defeat the insurgents.