Lalong celebrates Christmas with IDPs, prays for insurgents to repent

Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau, on Christmas day, visited the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Bukuru near Jos to celebrate with the IDPs on the festive day.

The IDPs were displaced from north-eastern parts of the country and were taking refuge in Plateau.

Lalong used the visit to pray to God to cause the insurgents whose activities had led to the deaths and displacement of thousands of Nigerians out of their ancestral homes to repent and embrace peace.

The governor said he decided to visit the IDPs on Christmas day to share in their plight and also eat with them before going back to his home.

According to him, it is not easy for anyone to leave his or her home no matter the situation.

He said “it is circumstance that the led them to leave their homes and we have to show them love and care.

He added that the Federal Government was already winning the war against the insurgency as shown in President Muhammadu Buhari’s determination to restore peace in the country.

“Our prayer is to continue to support Mr President that everybody will be back home and I know that Mr President is committed to this project.

“Our prayer is that we will not have this kind of situation in Nigeria again, the only thing we do is pray for the forgiveness of this people because they do not know what they are doing,’’ he prayed.

The Coordinator, Stefanos Foundation Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) Camp, Mr Mark Lipdo in his remarks, said that since the establishment of the camp on Nov. 1, 2014, the camp took care of 473 families in a transit for the period.’’

Lipdo explained that more than 300 families had been successfully integrated into various host communities of Plateau.

He noted that “left in this camp now is 97 families, totaling 560 people.

“We have tried to resettle some back to Michika, Mubi and other places even though some have been kidnapped and their families are still here.

“We are particularly grateful to you because in our struggle you come to our aid at several times; you helped us during the campaigns and you also helped us as soon as you came to office.’’

The coordinator said it was the first time the camp was receiving a governor for the one year two months that it operated in the state.

According to him, the IPS are encouraged by seeing the governor in spite of the tight schedule, stressing that the visit shows the significance of day to the world.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the governor donated cows and rice to the IDPs during the visit.