Niger cancels Children’s Day fanfare

NIGER State Governor Babangida Aliyu has said that the 2014 Children’s Day as well as this year’s Democracy Day celebrations will be low-keyed as a mark of respect to those affected by security challenges currently confronting the nation.

Commissioner of

Information, Communications and Strategy in the state, Danladi Ndayebo, told journalists in Minna, the state capital, on Thursday that Children’s Day and Democracy Day celebrations would be marked in the state with prayers for the nation.

“Owing to the security situation in the country, Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu has directed that this year’s Children’s Day and Democracy Day be used to seek God’s face and intervention for the nation.”

Ndayebo said the Ministry of Gender Affairs and Social Development would on Children’s Day on May 27 mobilise children from across the state to pray for the release of the over 200 girls abducted by Boko Haram in Chibok, Borno State.

He said children, both Muslims and Christians would pray for Nigeria and the safe return of their colleagues, who were abducted from their school on April 14 while the Democracy Day on May 29 would be devoted to prayer and asking God to bring an end to terrorism and to restore peace in the troubled North-East region and in Nigeria as a whole.

The commissioner urged all stakeholders to remain steadfast in prayers for an end to the senseless killing of Nigerians, adding that state government was doing its best to maintain peace.

He also urged people living in the state to be vigilant and report any suspicious movement to security agencies.