You Are Not Alone — CAN Northern States Reassure Benue IDPs, Donate Food Items to 1,000 Families, PWDs

From Dooshima Terkura, Makurdi

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 Northern States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with support from the Barnabas Fund, has distributed food relief items worth millions of naira to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) in Benue State.

Beneficiaries of the intervention were drawn from Yelewata community in Guma Local Government Area as well as displaced persons from various communities in Gwer West Local Government Area.
Presenting the relief items at the CAN Secretariat in Makurdi, the Chairman of CAN in the 19 Northern States, Rev. Joseph Hayab, explained that the gesture was an expression of love and compassion aimed at alleviating the hardship faced by the affected families.
According to him, CAN Northern Nigeria partnered with the Barnabas Fund, which extended support to enable assistance to Christians who are victims of persecution in five selected states—Kaduna, Plateau, Borno and Benue in the North, and Ondo State in the South.
Rev. Hayab, who described Benue as the most recent victim of persecution, sympathized with CAN and the entire Christian community in the state.
“We express our deepest sympathy and concern over what has happened to you, and we want you to know that you are not alone. Your houses may have been burnt; your children, wives and husbands may have been killed, but you are not alone. Though pain has been inflicted on you, testimony is coming, and what we are doing today marks the beginning of that testimony,” he said.
He disclosed that, in a transparent process, food items were being distributed to 1,000 families, with each family receiving a 25kg bag of rice, a quarter bag of maize, garri and beans, two litres of palm oil, three litres of groundnut oil, sugar, as well as condiments including sachets of salt and seasoning cubes.
“You are not beggars. It is a privilege for the global church to stand with you. This is a demonstration of love. We must not treat anyone as insignificant, because before God we are all equal and important. That is why PWDs were also included. We pray that this gesture will further unite us,” Hayab added.
He assured the beneficiaries that CAN would return with further support if opportunities arise, stressing that those persecuting the church would be exposed and defeated by God.
“God is gradually raising voices to speak for us. Recently, people in Benue spoke out, and more voices will be raised. Go home rejoicing, knowing that you have brothers and sisters within and outside Nigeria who care about you,” he stated.
Rev. Hayab also commended the leadership of CAN in Benue State for identifying the beneficiaries and urged them to ensure fair and equitable distribution of the items so that everyone would return home with a testimony.
Speaking earlier, the Vice Chairman of CAN in Benue State, Rev. Jonathan Ugbede, expressed gratitude to the Barnabas Fund for the gesture, describing the day as significant because the plight of the Benue people had gained global attention.
He noted that the state had endured insurgency for about 15 years, adding that the recent attack in Yelewata was “one too many,” as over 200 men, women and children were massacred in a single night, drawing both local and international attention.
Rev. Ugbede also recalled repeated attacks in Gwer West Local Government Area over the years and prayed that peace would be restored to Nigeria, expressing hope that the visit and prayers of CAN members from the 19 Northern States and FCT would bring an end to the crisis.
In his remarks, the Special Assistant to the Benue State Governor on Religion and Societies, Mr. David Ajav, appreciated the leadership of CAN in Northern Nigeria for standing with Benue during its difficult period, describing the support as highly encouraging to survivors of the recent attacks.
“I can see the excitement on the faces of the survivors; they are visibly encouraged. A few months ago, Benue suffered severe attacks, but to the glory of God, through the intervention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the efforts of Governor Hyacinth Alia to improve security, the state has enjoyed relative peace,” Ajav said.
On behalf of the Benue State Government, he thanked the Barnabas Fund and CAN Northern Nigeria for supporting vulnerable families and urged the displaced persons not to lose hope, assuring them that the governor was working tirelessly to ensure their safe return to their ancestral homes.
Some beneficiaries, including Mrs. Ruth Kyaakior, Abraham Asong, Ejuma Ubeke and Akkajime Jacob, also expressed appreciation to CAN and the Barnabas Fund for the assistance, praying for God’s abundant blessings upon the donors.