The Emir of Muri, Alhaji Abbas Njidda Tafida, has called on his subjects to engage in prayers and fasting to seek divine intervention for rainfall. The directive comes as crops in several parts of the state wither due to a prolonged drought.
The affected areas include Jalingo, Karim-Lamido, Gassol, Lau, and Ardo-Kola Local Government Areas. The emir has instructed the Chief Imam of the Jalingo Central Mosque to ensure that all imams within the Muri Emirate participate in the prayers and fasting.
Reports indicate that crops such as rice, maize, and groundnuts have started to wither in the affected areas, with no rainfall recorded for the past four weeks. However, some areas in central, northern, and southern Taraba, where crops were planted earlier, have begun harvesting.
The drought has led to a surge in maize prices across the state, with a 100kg bag of newly harvested maize selling at N55,000 and a 100kg bag of old stock maize priced at N80,000.
