By Correspondent in Taraba
The Catholic Diocese of Jalingo, Taraba state, on Tuesday, donated relief materials to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Bali Local Government Area of the state.
The Catholic Bishop of Jalingo Diocese, the Most Rev Charles Hammawa, presented the items to IDPs at St Paul’s Parish house, Bali in
Hamawa said that the gesture was to ameliorate the plight of the people who were obviously having tough time, due to the renewed resurgency that had claimed many lives and tendered thousand of people homeless.
Hammawa, who was represented by the Diocesan Coordinator of the Justice Development and Peace Commission/Caritas, (JDPC) Rev. Fr. Stephen Bakari, expressed concern that many people were suffering so much for no fault of theirs.
The cleri urged the people to preoccupy their hearts with love rather than hate for their assailants.
‘These are clearly not the best of times for us as a nation and especially as rural farmers here in Bali Local Government Area.
” Given the amount of pains, losses and suffering most of you are going through, I know it may be very difficult to console you.
“As a Church, our major concern is to relief your pains to the barest minimum and urge you to allow the love of Christ to reign in your hearts.
“Most of you are terribly wounded. You need to flush out hatred and anger from your hearts for your healing to be quick.
“Let me use this opportunity to call on the government to do the needful to end these senseless killings,’ Hamawa said.
The Bishop expressed worry over the negative effect of the crisis on food production in the state and the nation at large.
“This situation is already creating a very bleak future for all of us. Food security is under serious threats,”he said.
Receiving the items, Very Rev. Fr. Augustine Agbaru, Parish priest of St Paul’s Parish in Bali, appreciated the team and also extended his appreciation to the Bishop for the quick and sensitive intervention.
According to him, this is not the first time the Bishop is intervening in such situations.
“He has been doing this time without number and we are very grateful.
“May God bless and keep him to continue these good things. The situation is a dicy one.
“The state government should do something. We are becoming disturbed, because the situation is becoming intriguing and we don’t even know where and when the situation will rear its ugly head.
“We live in unpredictable times and we pray that God will also intervene in the matter’.
One of the IDPs, Mrs Rosaline Akombo, a mother of seven who narrated the sad incidence that brought them to the Parish house, expressed joy over the gesture of the Catholic Diocese.
Akimbo stated that it was a timely intervention, adding that she and her colleagues wete most grateful.
Mr Joseph Diche, the leader of the IDPs who received the succour on behalf of the IDPs, described the gesture as a gracious one.
‘We really appreciate the kindness of the Bishop, how he always helps us in times like this. We also appreciate the JDPC for their efforts and support.
” It is our prayer that the Almighty God will reward you all abundantly and bless your efforts. We also want to very specially appreciate the Parish Priest Very Rev. Fr. Augustine for being there for us at all times’he said.
The Reporters gathered that over 10 persons were recently displaced from communities across Bali and Gassol local government areas where armed herdsmen attacked and killed over a hundred persons, forcing others to run for dear lives.
