From correspondent in Minna.
The Women’s Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (WOWICAN), Niger state chapter, has donated relief materials, including assorted food items and non-food items estimated at several hundreds of thousand of naira to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from Munya and Shiroro Local Government Areas of the state.
The IDPs, mostly women and children, forced out of their ancestral homes by armed bandits whose activities caused many deaths among the villagers who are mostly farmers, abducted several others and rendered millions homeless were being sheltered at the Central Primary School in Gwada, in Shiroro Local Government.
Presenting the items which include bundles of clothing materials to the IDPs, the Chairperson of the faith-based organization, Deaconess (Mrs) Deborah Amina Gana, said the gesture was part of the lined-up activities to mark the 10th year anniversary/Award presentation to deserving Nigerlites.
The relief items consist of several bails (bundles) of clothing materials food stuffs, soup ingredients, packets of bar soap and detergents among others at the premises of the camp in order to cushion the effects of the hardships confronting them.
Amina said, “We, members of WOWICAN, Niger state chapter symbolically share love with our sisters and brothers displaced from their homes and communities by suspected armed bandits and insurgents since 2019 till date following incessant attacks, killings and abduction of many in Munya and Shiroro Local Government”.
“We are here at the IDPs camp, Gwada in Shiroro to visit our sisters in their improvised homes who are both Christians and Muslims by faith in commemoration of our 10th year Convention anniversary. We feel that the Lord has blessed us and we want to share same love by showing love with the people in the IDPs camp in Shiroro and Munya.
“Members of the WOWICAN, Niger state chapter presented the token as a sign of show of love and to feel with them the situation that they are into and then to pray that God by his grace will bring to an end the ugly and unfortunate situation that had made them become refugees in their own country and state,
According to Deaconess Amina, “WOWICAN and Christians in the state and across the country generally pray that peace returns to the troubled communities in the affected local government areas so that the victims can return to their various homes and reunite with their people and families in Jesus Christ name”.
“Here we have for the IDPs in the camp 87 bags of; Rice, Garri, Millet, Guinea-corn, Maize Sorghum. Non-food items like; bar soaps, detergents and some clothing materials. We also have soup ingredients like seasoning and other condiments alleviate the hardship they have been exposed to over the years”.
“What WOWICAN has done is in line with the theme of this year’s Convention, ‘Keep Working on the Faith path’, and expressed the hope that at the end of the three-day programme, the IDPs would have been encouraged to remain steadfast in prayers that their challenges would soon be over,” she added.
While encouraging them to focus on God for his intervention, Amina said, “Let us not be shaken nor down cast, we are bound to face the challenges as humans but when we keep working on the Faith paths, we will surely reach the destination by the grace of God”.
She challenged other faith-based organizations, other well meaning Nigerians, Corporate Citizens/Organisation and government at all levels to, “Always remember these people that are in this ugly situation today because nobody knows tomorrow”.
Amina Gana, sounding philosophical however said, “Today, these people are here not because they want to be here but because of circumstances.
” The Bible tells us that we should pray for one another, that we should pray for those that are in sorrow and share with them in sorrowful moments, just as we are also told identify with those that are celebrating”.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
