• Muslims groan over high cost of rams, food stuff
• Military warn of possible isolated attacks
• Gov Abba approves N20,000 bonus for Kano workers 

‎‎By Charles Olewezi (Suleja), Nahum Sule (Jalingo), Yakubu Wuyep (Jos), and Olawumi Oyehan (Abuja)

‎‎As the Muslim faithful in Nigeria today join their counterparts across the world to mark this year’s Eid-El-Kabir, investigations by our reporters reveal that the majority of the people would not be able to purchase rams and other commodities needed for the ceremony due to their exorbitant costs.

Also, many others are worried over the renewed insecurity in various parts of the country especially in the North and South west with many expressing fear of possible terrorist attacks during the festival.

In the last few weeks, what was once the North’s nightmare arrived in the South-west. On May 15, terrorists raided three schools in Oyo State and kidnapped pupils, teachers including a two-year-old child.

Kwara State has experienced a surge in attacks by bandits and suspected terrorists, with recent violence concentrated in the Kaiama, Baruten, Ifelodun, and Ekiti Local Government Areas.  This month alone, suspected bandits invaded Yashikira community in Baruten LGA, setting parts of the Emir’s palace ablaze and abducting several residents, including women and children, In Ekiti LGA, gunmen raided a night vigil at a prayer ground in Ori-Oke Ajaiye, killing three worshippers and abducting 15 others, while in Oke-Ode, Armed men attacked the Ogbayo area of Oke-Ode in Ifelodun LGA, killing 12 vigilante members, including a community leader. Earlier in February, a devastating attack by armed extremists in the Nuku and Woro communities claimed the lives of at least 75 residents and prompted federal military deployments. There have also been similar attacks in Plateau, Zamfara, Borno, Yobe, Benue and other parts of the north.

‎‎In Suleja, Niger State, most of the people interviewed complained of the high cost of rams preferring to go for smaller purchases from meat sellers. A survey shows that Sallah rams in Suleja currently range from N120,000 to N800,000 depending largely on the size and breed. Smaller rams cost between N120,000 and N200,000, medium-sized ones go for N300,000 to N450,000 while larger ones range between N500,000 and N800,000. A ram trader in Suleja told our reporter that the high costs of the rams are largely due to the high cost of transportation and animal feed.

‎‎In Plateau State, our correspondent reports that prices of rams and several  livestock markets across 17 LGAs rose sharply ahead of the 2026 Eid-el-Kabir celebrations, with some high-grade animals now going for as much as  N1.5 million and N2 million. Most of the  traders complained that the increased foodstuffs and animals were caused by higher transport fares, insecurity, and the rising cost of feeding the livestock, all of which are squeezing both suppliers and buyers.

‎‎Findings by Daily NewsCraft across Terminus, Gada_Biu and Farin Gada Markets indicate that the prices of items in the animal markets rose up this year compared to last year.

‎‎Market operators linked the development to broader economic challenges, including persistent inflation, expensive logistics, security concerns, and reduced purchasing power among households. It was revealed that the persistent inflationary pressures also  weakened consumer purchasing power across the state.

‎‎In Jalingo, the capital of Taraba State, rising food prices, expensive livestock and increasing transportation costs have forced many families to scale down festivities, abandon travel plans and embrace modest celebrations. Findings by our correspondent from major markets in Jalingo, Iware and Mayo Belwa revealed that the soaring cost of living has significantly altered preparations for the annual festival, with traders and residents lamenting sharp increases in the prices of food items and rams. A tomato and pepper dealer at Mile 6 Market in Jalingo, Abubakar Tutare, described the situation as unbearable for both traders and consumers. According to him, prices of major cooking ingredients have risen drastically within a short period.

‎‎“Tomatoes and pepper are very expensive now. A basket of tomatoes is now sold for about N80,000. It used to be between N52,000 and N53,000 before now. A basket of pepper now costs N120,000 whereas it was previously sold for about N50,000. Onion is now N90,000 per bag compared to N56,000 before,” he said.

The situation in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja is not different as ram sellers and buyers, on Tuesday, raised the alarm over the high cost of livestock.

‎‎They lamented that prices of rams have increased by more than 50% compared to what they were in 2025.

‎‎Investigation by our correspondent revealed that prices of ram in Abuja range from N200,000 to N1, 000, 000 or even over. The ones that were sold at N150,000 in 2025, now go for between N300,000 and N320,000.

‎‎Alhaji Abdullah, a buyer, who spoke to Daily NewsCraft, said the price of ram this year is very high, but that he still had to buy.

‎He noted that he knows people who have decided to look for alternatives. The alternative, according to Abdullah, is to buy a cow and share with seven other people or buy a sheep, or a male goat as these are cheaper options.

‎On what could be responsible for this increment, he said it is majorly due to an increase in insecurity, hence low supply from the North West.

Malam Ahmed Mohammed, a livestock dealer at the Dei-Dei livestock market, in his reaction, confirmed the low supply and increase in prices. He said that rams supply to major cities was far below expectations compared to 2024, especially from neighbouring countries.

‎ ‎“You know we mostly get these animals from Niger and other nearby countries that share borders with us in the North.

‎‎“Now, we have to rely solely on local supply from household livestock farmers, which is limited.

‎‎“Many traders have even left the business for more profitable ventures. A ram that sold for N200,000 in 2024 now goes for N400,000. Only the rich can afford it now,” he said.

‎‎Similarly, Mr Sanusi Abdullahi, a roadside livestock trader at Dutse, said that ram prices ranged from N200,000 to N700,000.

‎‎To ameliorate the effect of the high cost of rams and other food items during the Sallah celebrations, the Governor of Kano State, Mallam Abba Yusuf, approved the sum of N20,000 Eid-el-Kabir goodwill package for each of the civil servants across the 44 local government areas of the State.

The approval was announced in a statement issued on Tuesday in Kano by Musa Tanko-Muhammad, Press Secretary to the Office of the Secretary to the State Government.

‎”The gesture is aimed at supporting workers ahead of the Eid-el-Kabir celebration,” the statement read in part.

‎‎The generosity came shortly after the payment of the May salaries to the state and local government workers.

‎‎“The intervention would cover civil servants on Grade Levels 01 to 14 in state ministries, departments, agencies, and local government councils across Kano,” the statement added.

‎‎Meanwhile, the Federal Government has declared Wednesday and Thursday (May 27 and 28), 2026 as public holidays to mark the celebration of Eid ul Adha.

‎…. military warn of possible isolated attacks

Meanwhile, the Nigerian military has warned Nigerians of possible Boko Haram/ISWAP attacks in isolated parts of the north east. The alarm was raised by the headquarters of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) warning of possible attempts by remnant Boko Haram terrorists and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters to launch isolated attacks during the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations in the North-East.

The warning was contained in a statement issued on Monday by the Media Information Officer of Headquarters Joint Task Force North East Operation HADIN KAI, Lt Col Sani Uba.

According to the statement, credible intelligence indicated that terrorists might attempt to target civilians using suicide bombers and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), especially in densely populated areas across the region, particularly in Borno State.

Uba, however, assured residents that the military had anticipated the threats and already deployed troops to vulnerable locations across all sectors ahead of Wednesday’s celebrations.

He disclosed that surveillance and Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISR) assets had been activated, while patrols had been intensified in collaboration with sister security agencies, the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), and local vigilance groups.

The statement read in part: “Operation HADIN KAI extends warm felicitations to all Muslim faithful ahead of the Eid-el-Kabir 1447AH celebrations scheduled for Wednesday, 28 May 2026, and wishes all residents of the North East a peaceful and joyful festivity.

“Credible intelligence available to the command indicates the possibility of isolated attempts by remnant Boko Haram terrorist (BHT) and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) elements to exploit the festive period to carry out attacks against civilian targets using suicide bombers and IEDs, particularly in areas of high population concentration.”

The command urged residents to remain vigilant during the celebrations by avoiding unnecessary movement, especially at night, and reporting suspicious persons or objects to security agencies.