Governor Babagana Zulum has called a statewide day of fasting and prayer for peace and stability, setting Monday 24 November 2025 aside for collective spiritual reflection amid renewed attacks on schools and religious centres across northern Nigeria.
The governor made the announcement in a televised broadcast aired on Saturday, stressing that the security setbacks facing the region demand unity, faith and vigilance. His address came shortly after a series of coordinated assaults in Kwara, Kebbi and Niger states intensified public anxiety.
Kwara authorities had earlier shut schools in four local government areas following an attack on a church where at least two worshippers were killed and several abducted. In Kebbi, gunmen seized 25 girls from a boarding school in Maga and killed a vice-principal during the raid. Niger State recorded the most severe incident, as at least 303 children and 12 teachers were taken from St. Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri, in a mass kidnapping that shocked the country.
Speaking to residents, Zulum described himself as “not just your governor but a fellow citizen with a profound sense of patriotism,” appealing for unity as the state works to consolidate gains made against insurgency.
“For the past 15 years, Borno State has been in the global spotlight owing to the Boko Haram insurgency. This affected every segment of our society, displacing millions of people and disrupting livelihoods,” he said, recalling difficult years marked by displacement, hunger and insecurity.
The governor praised residents for their cooperation with security agencies, noting that the relative calm experienced in recent years was possible because citizens “set aside differences of ethnicity, religion and sectionalism” and rallied behind security forces.
“By the will of God, we were able to overcome those harrowing days of insurgency by uniting as one,” he stated. “We rallied behind our armed forces and other security agencies to confront the common enemy, whose aim was to destabilise our state, the Northeast and the nation as a whole.”
Zulum also pointed to improvements in agricultural activities following the gradual return of stability. According to him, “the relative peace attained in the state has contributed to a promising harvest for this year’s farming season,” adding that farmers cultivated enough to “sustain them for the next one to two years.” He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to provide farm inputs and chemicals to support all-year farming.
Although he admitted that sporadic attacks still take place, the governor encouraged citizens to remain hopeful and grounded in faith. “Your resilience has been a source of inspiration and strength to me and to the entire administration. As people of faith, we believe our security strategies must be underpinned by prayers,” he added.
Declaring Monday as a day of fasting and prayer, Zulum urged every resident, regardless of faith, to join the spiritual exercise. “I hereby declare Monday, 24th November 2025, as a statewide day of fasting and prayer for the restoration of peace in Borno State and the country in general,” he announced.
“On this day, I call upon every resident of Borno State, regardless of faith, to join in prayer for the past lasting peace and prosperity of our beloved state and Nigeria. Consequently, let us therefore devote ourselves to constant prayers, seeking Almighty God’s mercy.”
He also restated his administration’s commitment to the welfare of security forces, community-based vigilance and dialogue initiatives “without compromising the state’s integrity or the safety of our people.”
