Boko Haram: Shettima, NOA DG, residents return to Konduga prayer ground after 3years for eid

The residents of Konduga town have marked their first Eid Mubarak in the town after three years of celebrating the festival in exile due to the insurgency by the Boko haram sect.
The deadly sect had killed and chased many of the residents out of the town. The Boko Haram then took over the town in 2014.
Governor Kashim Shettima, alongside the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency, Dr Garba Abari on Monday observed the Eid prayers in Konduga town.
The Governor was received by the council Chairman, Audu Ladan, and the district Head of Konduga, Alhaji Zanna Masu Yale, at an Eid ground located along the District Head’s palace in Konduga township amid large turn-out of former Internally Displaced Persons, who returned to Konduga two weeks ago.
The two raka’ats (Eid prayer) was led by the Imam Eidaini of Konduga, Imam Goni Lawan, who later, slaughtered his symbolic ram in the presence of Governor Shettima, to pave way for the other worshipers to follow suit.
Explaining his decision to mark the Eid prayers outside Maiduguri, Governor Shettima noted that it was the first time any sitting governor would do that.
“Konduga is not more important to us than Askira Uba, where two Emirs have returned; it is not more important to us than Gwoza, which is bigger and more populated. Konduga is also not more important to us than Monguno, Kukawa, Damboa, Ngala, Dikwa or any other part of the state, where our citizens have returned. We chose Konduga because of its proximity to Maiduguri; given the fact that some of those working with me need to go back and slaughter their rams, which are mostly in Maiduguri.
“So, Konduga is a mere symbol in this instance, which represents all the communities where our people have returned. We are here in solidarity with them, to celebrate the Sallah with them, to strengthen the fact that they are no less important than those who were not affected by the insurgency, to reaffirm our commitment to the resettlement of the IDPS,” he said.
The insurgents had serially bombed public buildings including hospitals, schools, council secretariats, markets and private houses, forcing residents to flee and remain in exile for three years.