Late in the evening of Sunday January 27 in Bauchi, at the end of a marathon three-day retreat titled 'Security Challenges in Northern Nigeria,' attended by Who's-Who in Northern Nigeria's Muslim clergy, Shaikh Mukhtar Abdullahi Birnin Kebbi (Imam of Birnin Kebbi and Walin Gwandu) was invited to offer the closing prayer. Each participant at the retreat, organized by the Coalition of Ulama and Civil Organisations of Kano State (Zauren Hadin Kan Malamai da Kungiyoyi na Jihar Kano), and which also attracted dozens of Muslim civil society activists, had their AMIN ready. The Imam prayed long and hard, and all chorused AMIN! AMIN! AMIN!
Before the closing prayer, the retreat of the Zauren Hadin Kai (which was set up to primarily bring together Muslim scholars and activists to address the North's current situation), had considered and issued a communique signed by Zaure Chairman Dr. Musa Borodo of Bayero University, Kano and secretary of its communique committee Dr. Ahmad Bello Dogarawa of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, wherein they reflected on the state of insecurity in Nigeria, the immediate and remote causes, and went further to proffer solutions, short and long term.
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