With about three months of displacement from their ancestral homes by terrorists, a group known as Plateau Club 1921 Jos, have provided a relief materials to alleviate the plight of Internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Bokkos LGA, Plateau state.
Recall, on the 24th December, 2023, Christmas Eve terrorists ravaged over 20 communities in Bokkos LGA alongside other communities in Mangu and Barkin-Ladi where many people were houses and goods worth billions destroyed, as victims fleet their ancestral abode to scamper for safety at the IDPs camps.
Presenting the relief items to the affected victims on Tuesday, on behalf of members of the Plateau Club 1921Jos, Chairman board of trustee of the club, Arch. Pam Dung Gyang, revealed that they have painstakingly take a step to ameliorate the suffering of the IDPs.
Gyang, represented by Chief Sunday Jesmiel, said the club’s membership cut across various religious and ethnic group as their driven philosophy is reaching out to vulnerable in the society.
According to him, “the rationale behind this noble gesture is to remember our brothers and sisters that were been devastated by the attacks from unknown persons.
“We felt that we should come and commensurate with them and render our hands of love for their wellbeing.”
Calling on government to intensify priority towards ensuring that IDPs were resettled back to their ancestral homes, Gyang said the people are predominantly productive farmers and most especially now that farming season is approaching “there is a need for government to provide adequate security to guaranteed their smooth return.
“Because the government is always advocating about food security and without security we cannot actualized food security.
“Honestly, if government can resettle these people back to their communities they will be happy and we the citizens as well rejoiced with them”, he stated
While appreciating the Plateau Club 1921 Jos members for reaching out to cushion the effects of hunger among displaced persons, Rev. Mandong Bitrus, vice chairman Bokkos IDP Central Committee lamented that their people were devastated not by unknown gunmen but herders that they know them, live with them, and when they see them they can be able to identify them and even mentioned their names.
He stated that about 30 villages were invaded, forcing over 19,000 persons across the 13 different IDPs camp in Bokkos LGA.
He said “right now we had about 7, 165 who were mostly badly affected in the camp. That is those that their homes is completely burnt down.
“The situation of IDPs is very bad because their homes and businesses were destroyed within a tinkling of an eye. Their situation is treble but we thank God for using well spirited Nigerians and overseas, non governmental organizations all over the world, because of what happened to us they have come to our aid, and that is what made the people a little bit comfortable and also help them to get over the trauma of displacement.”
“The rain has started setting, we prayed God to grant the government and security agents the power to ensure they return displaced persons to their ancestral homes.”