Farmers in Basirka town, Gwaram Local Government Area of Jigawa State, have turned to prayer and fasting as a prolonged dry spell threatens their crops and livelihoods.
Hundreds of residents trooped to the town’s Eid ground for a three-day special prayer, known as Salatul Istisqa, seeking divine intervention over the worsening shortage of rainfall.
The prayer began on Saturday and continued on Sunday and Monday, with residents also observing a voluntary fast on Monday as part of efforts to seek Allah’s mercy.
The development has sparked anxiety among farmers, many of whom depend entirely on rain-fed agriculture.
Crops, particularly maize and millet, were reportedly beginning to wither as the expected rains failed to come regularly, raising fears of poor harvests.
The situation is coming amid unusual rainfall patterns across parts of the country, with some southern states battling heavy downpours and flooding while communities in parts of the North are grappling with inadequate and poorly distributed rainfall.
Leading the special prayer on Monday, the Chief Imam of Basirka, Sheikh Sanunu Basirka, urged residents to repent, seek forgiveness and intensify their prayers.
He explained that the community had deliberately sustained the prayer exercise for three days and also encouraged residents to fast as they sought divine intervention.
According to him, the gathering was a collective appeal to Allah to forgive the people and send beneficial rain to the community.
The cleric also described the dry spell as a test from Allah, urging residents to increase acts of worship, give charity and avoid actions believed to attract divine displeasure.
He further reminded the worshippers that sincere repentance and seeking Allah’s forgiveness could bring divine relief, including the blessing of rainfall.
The atmosphere at the Eid ground was emotional as men, women, youths and children sat under the scorching sun, raising their hands in supplication and pleading for rain.
Among those at the prayer was 65-year-old farmer, Ibrahim Musa Dankoli, who lamented the worsening condition of his maize and millet farms.
He said the crops were already showing signs of severe stress because of the prolonged absence of adequate rainfall, leaving farmers with little option but to seek divine help.
Another resident, Haruna Aliyu Basirka, said the situation had created serious fears among farmers in Gwaram LGA, particularly because the farming season was already well underway.
He said residents were compelled to come together and pray because the rains had unexpectedly stopped at a critical period for their crops.
Also speaking, a youth leader in the town, Malam Sulaiman Adamu Basirka, said the entire community had united behind the prayer initiative.
He said residents were appealing for beneficial rainfall capable of rescuing their farms and providing enough water for livestock.
The prayer ended with residents continuing their supplications, as farmers returned home hoping that the heavens would soon open over Basirka.
