Less than a week to the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations, ram traders from the south-western part of the country have besieged towns and villages in Katsina State in search of rams to be sold to Muslims for the festival.
Investigations by one of our correspondents revealed that many ram traders particularly from Lagos, Oyo and Ogun states had become regular visitors to Katsina towns and villages searching for affordable rams so as to maximise their profits.
Prices of rams in Katsina currently range from N25,000 to N120,000,depending on the size and breed.
According to investigations by one of our correspondents, the markets mostly patronised by these ram traders are Mayardua, Mashi, Dankama, Charanchi and Batsari which are located in various parts of state.
Since the ram markets in these towns come up at different days of the week, many ram traders from the South-West have to stay between one and two weeks, with a view to getting the best bargains.
One of the ram traders, a serving corps member who pleaded anonymity, said he borrowed some money from his friend’s mother residing in Lagos to enable him and his friend to engage in the ram business for the coming Islamic festival.
He said, “I schooled in Katsina and I know the terrain. Thus, when I told my friend about the ram business, the mother assisted us with some money and she also assisted us to secure a place at “Alaba Rago” in Lagos where the rams we buy here will be displayed for sale. Already, we have sent the first batch of the rams to Lagos.
“We got them from Mayardua ram market. We got the rams for between N25,000 and N70,000 but I cannot say precisely how much they would be sold in Lagos. The trailer drivers collect between N2,500 and N5,000 on each ram to transport them to Lagos.”
Another ram trader, Mr. Rasaki Amoo, claimed that he and his group travelled to Katsina from Ibadan, Oyo State in search of cheap rams.
According to Amoo, what he and his group normally do is to visit each market on appointed days and buy a number of rams which they keep somewhere until they get the actual number they want.”
Meanwhile, the Kwara State Government has assured Muslim faithful and other residents of the state of their safety before, during and after the forthcoming Eid-el-Kabir celebrations.
This may not be unconnected with concerns in the state over insinuations that some aggrieved residents may disrupt the peace during the Eid-el-Kabir prayers in the state, especially at the Yidi Praying Ground in Ilorin.
One of our correspondents in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, gathered on Sunday, that some workers especially local government employees, in the state were aggrieved for being owed about six months’ salary.
The Kwara State Secretary, Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees, Mr. Abayomi Afolabi, had said workers in the state’s 16 LG councils received only about 20 per cent of their August salaries.
It was said that some of the aggrieved residents, could vent their anger and frustrations by disrupting the peace and embarrassing dignitaries during the prayers.
Hoodlums had stoned and pelted the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, and other dignitaries with sachet water during last year’s prayers.
The state government in the statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Isiaka Gold, said subsequent engagements would be with Christian clerics, community associations, youth groups, professional groups and artisans.
He stated that adequate measures had been put in place by the government to ensure hitch-free prayers and celebrations.
Punch
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