From John Adams, Minna
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Niger State chapter, has donated relief items to victims of bandit attacks across communities in Shiroro and Paikoro Local Government Areas of the state.
The relief items, which the Christian body said were meant to cushion the hardship being faced by those who were displaced as a results of sustained attacks by the gunmen, include food and nonfood items.
Hundreds of people were forced to relocate from their homes due to the activities of gunmen and are currently taking refuge at internally displaced camps (IDPs) in Gwada in Shiroro and Kafin-Koro in Paikoro local government areas of the state.
The state Chairman of CAN, Most Rev. Dr. Bulus Yohanna, at the presentations of the relief materials to IDPs, urged them to remain steadfast and prayerful against the enemies of the people. The CAN chairman, who was represented by the Vice Chairman, Rev. Ezekiel Ibrahim, appealed to them to accept the little that was presented to them saying, “our prayers are with you always, because we want you to return to your homes soonest”.
He assured the people that “the issue of insecurity and banditry in the state and other parts of the country will soon be a thing of the past. God has heard our cries.” He further expressed sympathy to the families of those who lost their lives and those still in captivity.
The relief items consist of several bags of rice, maize, beans, cartons of noodles, gallons of palm oil, groundnut oil, packets of bath soap, detergents, salt and seasonings.
The Parish Priest of SS Peter & Paul, Kafin Koro, Rev Fr. Benedict John Adigizi, who received the items on behalf of the people, appreciated the effort of the body of Christ. He added that a number of people were seriously affected while many others relocated, adding, “but with the presence of security agencies, some have started returning and the people have started living in peace.”