These are definitely not the best of times for farmers in Borno state as they have decided to go spiritual with their concerns.

Newspread learnt that because of little or no rainfall, the farmers, mostly in northern and central parts of the state are going on a special round of prayers, hoping for a divine intervention; or else, a drought is imminent.

Also affected are most farmers in the Maiduguri metropolitan area, Jere, Konduga, Kaga and Mafa Local Government Area.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria, a farmer at the outskirts of Maiduguri, Malam Ibrahim Ali said: “You will see cloud as if it’s going to rain but after some time there would be strong wind pushing the clouds to another place and that’s the end. If things continue this way there will be drought”.

Not wanting to leave anything to chance, the Borno Emirate Council has also decided to take the bull by the horn by mobilising residents for special prayers for rain, otherwise known as “Salatul Istisqa’a”.

The Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Umar Garbai El-Kanemi in a statement asked all Muslims, irrespective of age, gender or status to gather at Ramat Square Maiduguri on Monday for the special prayer that can only be answered by God.