A bombed mosque in Maiduguri

Despite the 23 October bombing of the car park of the new mosque in Jambutu area of Yola, Adamawa State, which claimed many lives, worshippers turned out en masse to observe Juma’at congregational prayer at the mosque on Friday.

“Many of us deliberately came here to tell the terrorists that they cannot intimidate us”, a worshipper who simply identified himself as Habibu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

But the security men did not take chances.

Policemen and members of religious aid groups conducted search on worshippers at the only entrance to the mosque that was open.

All the other entrances were closed at 12 noon.

The Chief Imam of the Mosque, Mallam Mohammad Ibn- Usman, whose sermon dwelt on condolence to families of those who died in the bomb blast, lauded the turn out and the conduct of the worshippers.

He urged Muslim faithful not to relent in their prayers for peace in Nigeria especially in the North-East.

The cleric stressed the need for the people to support the security agencies to ensure security of lives and property