Thieves cart away Chief Imam’s Sallah ram in Plateau

Last minute Sallah shoppers in Agege Ram market yesterday… PHOTO AYODELE ADENIRAN

Some unknown persons allegedly stole a Sallah ram, belonging to the Chief Imam of Mista Ali community in Bassa Local Government Area (LGA) of Plateau State, Imam Abdulkadir, on the eve of Eid-el-Kabir celebration, The Guardian has gathered.

According to reports, the ram was stolen during a heavy downpour in the area on Saturday night.

An Imam in the community, Malam Haruna Yaqub, disclosed this during the sermon shortly after the two Raka’at prayers.

Yaqub, who condemned the act, described it as unfortunate and wicked.

“The ram of our Chief Imam, which he purposely bought to sacrifice, was stolen in the night,” he said.

“We are really shocked and perplexed by the incident. We were astonished to hear this story. This means that people are not God’s fearing. It is scaring that people have gone to the extent of stealing ram meant for religious activity.”

He urged the people to be God-fearing and never to engage in either stealing or any act of criminality.

Speaking further, he said that everyone will account for their actions in the here and hereafter.

Recently, two men were arrested while attempting to sell two rams they allegedly stole at the Gwagwalada Cattle Market in Gwagwalada Area Council, Abuja.

This happened just 48 hours after two men were arrested with three stolen rams in the Abaji Cattle Market in Abaji Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

According to a witness, Shuaibu Ibrahim, the suspects allegedly stole the animals from the residence of one Alhaji Rabiu Usman who bought them for the Eid el-Kabir at Unguwar Dodo in the metropolis of the council on Wednesday.

“Alhaji Rabiu is my friend. I went with him to Madalla last week where he purchased the two rams and brought them home, but on Wednesday evening when he called to inform me that his rams had been stolen.”

He said Alhaji Rabiu alerted the ram sellers at the Gwagwalada Cattle Market about the missing rams and on Wednesday, at about 5pm he was called on phone to come over, that some people brought two rams to sell at the market. He rushed there and discovered that they were his rams.

He added that vigilantes took the two suspects away.