By Khalid Idris Doya
A Bauchi-based non-governmental organisation, the Wunti Al‑Khair Foundation, has trained over 130 members of Islamic Aid Groups on crowd control, traffic management and emergency response ahead of this year's Sallah celebrations across Bauchi State.
The two-day training, which began on Sunday at the Bauchi Central Mosque, was aimed at equipping volunteers with basic and technical skills needed to ensure orderliness and free flow of traffic at Eid prayer grounds across the state.
Speaking during the opening ceremony, Isyaka Ismail Wunti, one of the conveners, explained that the training is an annual initiative designed to strengthen the capacity of Islamic aid groups responsible for coordinating activities during Eid-el-Fitr celebrations.
According to him, the participants were drawn from the 20 local government areas of the state and carefully selected from various Islamic aid organisations in collaboration with Jama'atu Nasril Islam (JNI), the umbrella body of Islamic groups.
He noted that the trained volunteers are expected to replicate the knowledge gained in their respective organisations to ensure effective coordination during Eid celebrations across all prayer grounds in the state.
"To make the training more effective, we worked with relevant stakeholders to develop topics that address present security concerns and day-to-day challenges. This will enable the volunteers to respond appropriately to any situation that may arise during Eid gatherings," he noted.
Ismail added that the participants represent different Islamic groups, including Jama'atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa Iqamatus Sunnah (JIBWIS), JNI, Riyala and other organisations.
He also explained that for almost 10 years, the foundation, under the philanthropic leadership of Dr. Bala Maijama Wunti, has consistently organised similar programmes to equip volunteers with the knowledge required to effectively discharge their humanitarian responsibilities.
Also speaking, the National Director of Jama'atu Nasril Islam, Bala Ibrahim Sani, said the training is organised annually to strengthen the commitment and preparedness of volunteers during the Sallah festivities and the traditional Hawan Daushe procession.
Sani who doubles as chairman Joint Islamic Aid groups in Bauchi explained that the volunteers are trained in first aid response, traffic control and rescue operations, including measures to reduce the incidence of missing children during the Sallah celebrations.
"In the past, there were many cases of missing children during the sallah celebration, where parents sometimes spent four to five days searching for them. With the training and commitment of volunteers, the situation has reduced significantly," he said.
Sani called on residents of Bauchi State to cooperate with the 'Yan Agaji and security agencies to ensure a peaceful and successful Eid celebration. He also commended the foundation and its founder for sustaining the annual initiative.
He added that the trained volunteers would complement the efforts of personnel of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the Nigerian Red Cross Society and other voluntary organisations during the celebrations.
One of the participants and Organising Secretary of JNI Bauchi, Ummi Umar Muhammad, said the training had broadened their knowledge and exposed them to new techniques that would enhance their humanitarian work.
She described the initiative as impactful, noting that volunteers remain committed to serving the community and promoting the values of Islam.
A Bauchi-based journalist, Nura Bashir Faggo, was among the resource persons who delivered presentations on the use of modern technology to improve humanitarian and security-related volunteer services.
Highlights of the event included the distribution of bags of rice and clothing materials to participants, with each volunteer receiving a bag of rice, in addition male participants were given Shadda and female participants received wrappers to support them during the Eid celebration.
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