By Danjuma Auta
Relief materials worth millions of naira have been distributed to victims of Fulani herdsmen’s attacks in Mangu, Barkin Ladi and Riyom Local Government Areas, (LGAs) of Plateau State.
Addressing the beneficiaries at the various LGAs, ECWA President, Rev. Dr. Stephen Baba Panya, said that the church was saddened over the incidents in which innocent citizens were killed and some forced from their ancestral homes.
He disclosed that the church was aware of the attacks in all the communities and commended the people for remaining firm in their faith.
Speaking at the palace of the Mishkaham Mwaghavul in Mangu LGA, Dah John Hirse, the ECWA President said that the attacks must be condemned by all peace loving citizens of Nigeria.
According to him, the church in Nigeria had been coming under intense attacks with hundreds of people being killed many others sustaining serious injuries and houses set on fire.
He assured the traditional ruler and the people of Mangu that they were not alone in these trying times.
He added that, the church would continue to pray for him and all the affected communities.
He disclosed that 537 households would benefit from the relief intervention across the three local government areas and all Christians, irrespective of denominations.
Responding, the Mishkaham Mwaghavul, Da John Hirse, thanked ECWA for the love demonstrated to his people, adding that the relief materials were the largest to be presented by a church denomination.
He disclosed that those attacking Plateau communities were well known by the government, yet nothing was being done to apprehend them.
The royal father described the Mwaghavul as a peace loving people who had been living in peace with their neighbors who had turned around to kill and destroy their valuables.
Addressing Christians in Kwi, Barkin Ladi LGA of Plateau State, the ECWA President praised them for standing firm and not allowing the persecution separate them from the love of Christ.
He stated that the church mobilized its leadership to Kwi to assure them that it was saddened by all the killings and advised that the relief materials brought by ECWA in collaboration with its mission partners was for all Christians which must be shared equally to all victims.
He called on the Kwi community to remain peaceful, forgive the perpetrators and pray for their salvation in Christ.
At Riyom, the ECWA leadership was received by the Da Gwom Rwey of Riyom, Da Samuel Jok, who disclosed that the ECWA leadership had really proven that it practices what it teaches.
According to him, even though ECWA churches were very few in his domain, it was the first to bring relief materials to his people in such a large quantity, adding that only God would reward them for showing them such great love.
He revealed that many of those whose houses were burnt down had already returned to their ancestral homes and called on the church and other well-meaning individuals to assist with building materials that would help them settle down as soon as possible.
The leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the three local government areas were at hand to receive the ECWA leadership and the relief materials for onward distribution to the beneficiaries. In their separate remarks, they thanked ECWA for the assistance and gave assurance that the materials would get to the victims.
The items distributed were 259 bags of maize, 215 bags of garri, 573 blankets, 261 cartons of soap shared to 537 households in the three local government areas.