Nigeria: Hundreds gather for Eid-al-Fitr prayers as religious gathering ban temporarily loosened

W/S Large gathering of Muslims worshippers heading to Tijani Corner Mosque prayer ground, New Karu
W/S Police offering hand sanitiser to worshippers by Tijani Corner Mosque gates
W/S Worshippers passing police
W/S Police offering hand sanitisers to worshippers
M/S Worshippers waiting for prayer call
M/S Children and caretakers preparing for prayer
M/S Worshippers waiting for prayer call
M/S Worshippers waiting for prayer call
SOT, Mohammed Hamad, Chief Imam (Hausa): "All glory to Almighty Allah, the most merciful, beneficent and sufficient. Seeing this day is by the power of Almighty Allah. We all know how coronavirus has prevented us from worshipping here for months. So I'm grateful to see my worshippers with excitement and joy. And I pray Almighty Allah will heal the world from coronavirus."
M/S Worshippers listening to message before Eid-al-Fitr Prayer
M/S Worshippers praying together
M/S Worshippers praying together
M/S Worshippers praying together
W/S Worshippers praying together
M/S Worshippers praying together
W/S Worshippers praying together
W/S Worshippers after service
SOT, Alhaja Zeenat Ibrahim, Worshipper (Hausa): "I want to thank Almighty Allah for this year's fasting and prayer, despite the problem in the world we were able to complete the 30 days fasting."
W/S Worshippers after service
W/S Worshippers after service
W/S Police among worshippers after service
W/S Traffic
M/S People cleaning up
W/S Worshippers
W/S Police officer cleaning up
W/S Tijani Corner Mosque
SCRIPT
Hundreds of worshippers gathered at a mosque in New Karu on Sunday to celebrate the end of Ramadan together and to join for Eid-al-Fitr prayers as gathering restrictions were eased in some Nigerian regions for the occasion.
Attendees at the prayers did not appear to be following social distancing rules, as they prayed in close proximity with each other, with most participants also not wearing masks, despite government issued rules.
"We all know how coronavirus has prevented us from worshipping here for months. So I'm grateful to see my worshippers with excitement and joy. And I pray Almighty Allah will heal the world from coronavirus," said Imam Mohammed Hamad.
In most regions bans on gatherings are still in place as a measure to try to halt the spread of coronavirus with some exception across the predominantly Muslim north, where congregations were allowed to meet under strict social distancing and hygiene guidelines.
On May 19 the central Nasarawa region, where New Karu is located, lifted its religious gatherings ban for two weeks under the requirement that worshippers respect social distancing and wear mouth masks, while religious institutions were also required to provide hand-washing opportunities and sanitiser.
Eid al-Fitr marks the end of the Muslim holiday Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, and lasts 29-30 days. Muslims observe it as a time of fasting during the day, and it is regarded as one of the five pillars of Islam.