Thread by @Simwal

#Thread
Follow up on moon sighting claims in Nigeria:
As usual I always try to follow up on questionable sighting claims. On returning back to Nigeria yesterday , I called Mal Jaafar member of National moon sighting committee present at the palace in Sokoto on the 29th Ramadan.

Jaafar said, Damaturu sighting claim was reported by the Secretary Yobe Emirates moon sighting Committee.Jaafar called him to get details and phone numbers of the sighters but the secretary said he has none, and said the reports were reported by district heads without details.

Jaafar gave me the only phone number available for a sighting claim by Suleiman Lawal from Katsina , I called the number and he said his name is Umar Abdullahi, he went out to search for the crescent with Suleiman and 1 other person but it was only sighted by Suleiman Lawal

I demanded for Suleiman Lawal’s number ( the only sighter) but I was told he doesn’t have a phone.

I got other numbers for Sokoto, Borno, lafiya and Gwandu from the secretary Sultanate moon sighting committee Sokoto . The Lafiya number is not going through.

I called Ubandoman Arkilla one of the Sokoto numbers given to me, he said he received a report of crescent sighting from Arkila Rufan Dankawu but has no names and details of the sighters, I demanded to get the names and he promised to get back to me.....I’m still waiting.

I called Bunin Wauru, the second number from Sokoto he confirmed that crescent was sighted in Mawa Habibu and Zangar Danberewa villages , when I demanded for names and contacts, it was same story,no names but he ll try and get the names and get back to me. ..still waiting too

I called the Borno contact, he said he’s currently in Abuja but he can confirm that they received a sighting report from Maiduguri . When I demanded for names and contacts, he said he ll call Maiduguri and get back to me too with the details. Still no call yet.

I called Walin Gwandu from Kebbi state, he confirmed to me that they received positive sighting reports from Andarai in Maiyama L.G.C Kebbi state. I demanded for the sighters contact details, he gave me the phone number of the Secretary Gwandu Emirates moon sighting committee.

The sec said he does not have the details of the sighters but coincidentally he’s in Andarai and he ll personally look for the sighters and call me back after Magrib. After waiting for more than 45mins without receiving his call, I called him and he said it’s raining that’s why

He said it’s raining that’s why he couldn’t go out but he ll surely get the details and call me back tomorrow morning inshaallah.
If I get any updates tomorrow I ll tweet it inshaallah.

The sec forwarded the names of the sighters Mustafa Salisu,Sanusi Anaruwa,Hatimu Garba ,Mustafa Kallamu. I spoke to one of them they claimed sighting the crescent at Kasuwar daji garin Andarai, like a minute after sunset b4 Magrib prayers.

It’s important to note that it’s impossible to sight a crescent immediately after sunset because of the sun’s glare, earliest is at least 12minutes after sunset. So obviously what they saw wasn’t the crescent.