The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Friday organised a Christmas ‘get-together’ for returnee Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Yola, Adamawa.

The IDPs are largely Nigerians that recently returned from Cameroon Republic.

Speaking during the party, Mr Sa’ad Bello, the agency’s Coordinator in the state, said that the gesture was to give hundreds of the IDPs a sense of belonging.

“This is to show our love and sense of belonging to the IDPs, majority of whom are women and children.”

Bello said the ceremony was organised in all the four major designated camps at Damare, Fufore, Girei and Malkohi camps.

He said the essence of the party was to show togetherness and recognition to the IDPs, especially during this important festive period.

“Similar event was organised for the IDPs during the last Sallah festival.

“The reason behind this event is to show love and identification to the IDPs, especially children among them who found themselves in this condition.”

He said eight cows and three sheep were slaughtered for the IDPs to cerebrate the Christmas festival.

He expressed happiness over the way both Christians and Muslims celebrated the Christmas in the IDPs camps as one family.

Responding on behalf of the IDPs at Fufore camp, Mr Ezekiel Yohanna from Gwoza local government area of Borno, thanked NEMA for identifying with them and their families.

Also, 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 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.”

The Coordinator, Stefanos Foundation Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) Camp, Mr Mark Lipdo in his remarks, said that since the establishment of the camp on November 1, 2014, the camp has taken 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, totalling 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 governor donated cows and rice to the IDPs during the visit. (NAN)

•Photo shows an IDP camp.

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