By Marie-Therese Nanlong

Jos – For families uprooted from their ancestral homes by violence in Plateau State, the arrival of food relief was more than assistance, it was reassurance that they had not been abandoned.

In camps and host communities across Bokkos and Mangu Local Government Areas, displaced parents and children gathered as support came from the Northern Bloc of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Barnabas Aid, a UK-based Christian charity.

No fewer than 1,000 households affected by attacks received food items, bringing relief to families who have endured months of uncertainty and dwindling donations.

Each household received essential staples including rice, beans, maize, garri, sugar, salt, seasoning, palm oil and groundnut oil.

Speaking during the distribution at Bokkos, Chairman of Northern CAN, Rev. Joseph Hayap, said the intervention was meant to restore hope to victims of religiously motivated violence and to remind them they were not alone.

He explained that the support was part of a wider outreach covering five States of Kaduna, Plateau, Benue, Ondo and Borno, with Plateau beneficiaries drawn from the worst-affected communities.

Rev. Hayap urged political leaders to prioritise the protection of citizens, stressing that no Nigerian should lose their life or home because of religious identity.

He called on States governors and President Bola Tinubu to take decisive steps to halt the attacks and rebuild shattered communities.

At St Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, Bokkos, where many displaced persons are taking refuge, the Parish Priest, Rev. Fr Paul Watpe, said the camp hosts about 9,840 individuals from 3,210 households.

He noted that support had slowed in recent months, leaving families discouraged, and described the donation as timely and deeply encouraging.

Among the beneficiaries was Pastor Gideon Dawal of the Christ Apostolic Church, who lost his wife and five children during the 24 December 2023 attack on Mbar community.

He said the assistance renewed his strength to carry on.

Another beneficiary, Nanfan Johnson, a person living with disability, described the support as unexpected, saying it would help his family, after losing everything.