Bishop makes case for inclusion of Taraba IDPs on FG rehabilitation programme

Catholic Bishop of Diocese Jalingo Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Charles Hammawa Monday appealed to General Theophilus Danjuma (rtd), chairman of the federal government rehabilitation and resettlement committee of IDPs in the Northeast to include Taraba IDPs on the scheme.

He made the appeal while featuring as the guest speaker at this year’s interdenominational church service organised by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Taraba state chapter which took place at CAN secretariat in Jalingo.

He noted that Taraba like Adamawa, Borno and Yobe was badly affected by crisis between 2013 and 2015, leading to loss of lives and property worth millions of Naira, adding that killings were still going on in Bali and Gassol local government areas.

“The Catholic Church has been badly affected. Seven of our parishes were destroyed or vandalised and over 3000 out stations burnt during the crisis. The church has reach out to the people affected by the crisis, by providing food and shelter and other things to alleviate their suffering.

“But the Church and the state government cannot do it alone. I therefore appeal to the Elder Statesman, General TY Danjuma (rtd), an illustrious son of Taraba who is now the chairman of the federal government committee on the rehabilitation of the Northeast affected by Boko Haram to include Taraba in the rehabilitation programme,” he appealed.

Hammawa who called for religious and political tolerance said he want to see more bills being passed by the State House of Assembly with focus on peaceful coexistence, noting that seven local government areas of Wukari, Ibi, Donga, Gassol, Bali, Takum and Gashaka in the state were badly affected by the three year old crisis which according to him has displaced hundreds of thousands of people and killed many others.

The bishop also called on the traditional rulers of Gassol and Bali to put in more efforts in ending killings in their domain, even as he called for peaceful coexistence among diverse religious, ethnic and political groups in the state.

In his remarks governor Darius Ishaku appreciated the bishop for his well delivered message, adding that he had earlier contacted Vice President Yemi Osinbajo over the inclusion of Taraba as states affected by crisis in the north east and assured that he would do everything to ensure the state is included in the rehabilitation programme.

Ishaku also backed the call by the bishop for the enactment of laws by the State Assembly to curb incessant communal conflicts in the state.