Special prayers in Sokoto against coronavirus spread

From Raji Bello, Sokoto

A group, Sokoto State Unity Forum has organized a special prayer sessions to invoke divine intervention over prevention and curtailing the spread of CONVID 19 across the globe.
Group leaders, Alhaji Bello Shatiman-Durbawa and Alhaji Yusuf Dingyadi, said the prayer sessions was part of group’s efforts to sensitize residents and supplicate to Almighty to stop the deadly virus, insecurity, banditry, kidnapping and other vices in the society.
The organisers who engaged Islamic clerics (Ulamahs) at eid ground (Fakon Idi) described the situations as an act of Almighty God and adding that supplication are best options to address the situations.
They urged people to return to repentance and abstain themselves from deeds that could distance their relationship with God.
“We are worry over the coronavirus pandemic and that is why we are seeking divine intervention. We want a stop to the spread of this pandemic through this prayer session and we believe He (God) will accept all our supplications,” the organisers said.
During the prayers, many of the Islamic clerics took turn to offer various supplication before God and prayed for urgent stop to the virus spread across the state, nation and the globe.
Meanwhile, Sokoto State government has provided three isolation centres and dispelled rumours over suspected case of COVID 19 in the state.
The state’s Commissioner for Health, Dr Ali Inname, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Sokoto that the state ministry of health is constantly monitoring the situation across the state.
Inname said the centers were located at Amanawa Infectious disease hospital, Usmanu Danfodio Teaching Hospital and a special centre at the Specialists Hospital in the state capital.
‘’ We have received a report of suspected case, the case did not meet the case definition of COVID 19 in anyway.
‘’ In view of the rapid evolution of the transmission we recommend that the general public to rely on officials sources of information and avoid rumours that may created, ‘’ Inname said.
He also assured that the general public would be updated with the findings on weekly basis.
The commissioner urged residents to go about their normal activities and observe the precautionary measures of cough etiquette, hand hygiene, social distancing, avoiding large crowd and seeking healthcare early.
He said the state government has committed resources to ensure the general public are enlightened, health workers are sensitized as well as provisions of testing for suspected cases.
According to him, as part of the measures to curtail the spread of the virus, the state government has banned all unnecessary gathering.
Other measures were providing of professional advice for necessary gathering, mandatory self-isolation for all returnees from COVID 19 endemic countries, engagement with ministry of education, Airport Authority, and other security operatives in the state.