From Gyang Bere, Jos
Internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Irigwe Chiefdom of Miango District, Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State, are living in a pitiable and pathetic condition. They have been living for years without a roof over their heads. They eat what comes their way.
Their children have been out of school, even as they lack adequate health facilities. Most of them who have been squatting with relations for several years can no longer bear the burden of maltreatment they are receiving.
They are victims of herdsmen, who invaded their communities to wreak mayhem, killing and destruction. Many of them are willing to return to their ancestral homes but government at all levels has failed to secure the communities for safe return of IDPs. Those who took the risk of returning without adequate measures have paid the supreme price, others returned to the camps with deformities.
But a sigh of relief came their way recently when Hon. Chris Hassan and his group donated some materials to them at the premises of ECWA Church in Miango.
Hassan presented the assorted items, including rice, garri, sugar, salt, noodles, seasoning and cooking oil, among others, as a way to identify with them.
Hassan said lending a helping hand to the less privileged and those who were wallowing in despair, despondency and distress was a top priority.
At the palace of the Bra Ngwe Rigwe, Rev. Ronku Aka, he sympathized with the traditional ruler and residents who have lost their homes, crops and land for no reason and prayed for God’s intervention to halt the killings.
He said: “We will continue to pray for God to halt these killings because it has done us more harm than good. You can imagine how people are moving on the streets without homes; it is very pathetic and I call on government to intervene and make life easier for the people.”
Hassan, who also led the delegation to flood-ravaged communities in Jos North Local Government Area, Aisha Mana Orphanage, the Jos Correctional Centre and the Our Lady of Apostles Orphanage, Zawan, Jos South Local Government Area, made similar donations to them.
He explained to the victims that the party saw the need to show solidarity with them and give them support to cushion the effects of the current economic hardship in the country in line with the party’s idea of giving hope to the people.
Mary Emmanuel, who was displaced during one of the attacks in 2019, lost her husband while her house was set ablaze. She had been taking refuge from one relation to another with no hope of retuning to her ancestral home.
She said: “I am seriously distressed because I don’t have a home, while my children are out of school. I can’t go back to rebuild my home because we are still not secure and, when we farm, herdsmen usually graze on the farm. So, I’m helpless.
“This donation will help us; this is how we survive, but it’s been long since we received help of this nature. We are indeed very grateful. I appeal to government at all levels to come to our aid.”
Flood victims, Ali Sa’at, from Gangare community and Ibrahim Pam, from Rikkos community, appreciated the gesture and said it will go a long way in addressing their hardship.
Gani Bitrus, who responded on behalf of the IDPs at Irigwe chiefdom, the matron in charge of Aisha Mana Orphanage, Helen Itse, the representative of the Jos Correctional Centre, John Pam, all commended the gesture and prayed that the aid would be extended to other people in the state who are passing through the same ordeal.