Presiding bishop and founder of the Living Faith Church (Winners Chapel Worldwide), Dr David Oyedepo has presented relief materials worth over N20 million to the victims of the recent attacks in some communities in Mangu local government area of Plateau State.
About 150 were killed and 10,000 others displaced from ancestral homes by the attackers suspected to be militia herdsmen.
The items included assorted bags of rice, beans, vegetable oil, cartons of maggi cubes, maize, yam tubers, blankets, mattresses, mosquito nets, toiletries and many household products.
Bishop Oyedepo who was represented at the event by the vice president, Church Network, Living Faith Church Worldwide, Pastor Olayinka Folorunsho, held at the palace of Miskhaham Mwaghavul HRH Da John Putmang Hirse said they were in the state to commiserate with the people of the state at the trying moment.
He said as a church and commission, the president taught it wise to stand by the entire people of Plateau with respect to the attacks on some communities in Mangu LGA where hundreds of people were killed and thousands displaced.
“He has specifically sent us to commiserate with the people concerning these attacks. A lot of lives were lost. So many others were displaced and hospitalised. Yesterday we visited some of the hospitals where the injured were receiving treatment. Some have bullets inside their bodies and are undergoing surgeries, we are there to assist them financially to facilitate speedy treatment,” the cleric said.
Folorunsho also said Oyedepo in a show of love and compassion identified with the people on what they were going through and directed that some relief materials in kind and cash ranging from food items, beddings, financial assistance to pay medical bills, which runs into tens of millions of naira be given to alleviate their suffering.
He disclosed that the governor of the state, Barr. Caleb Mutfwang, had a great task before him with respect to security, adding that they all know that security is not only the responsibility of the government, “but every one of us must ensure that peace returns to Plateau and every affected community.
“As a Christian institution and body they keep educating their members and people who come to Church from time to time by the teachings of the scripture, how to coexist in peace, how to be their brothers’ keeper and by doing so when our level of tolerance is high you find acceptability.”
“In life, there will always be little friction, but when we understand that we are important and need one another to a large extent, there will be peace in the society. So, we keep educating as many audiences that we have and employ them to be their brothers’ keeper, whenever you notice any suspicious move irrespective of tribe, religion, report to the relevant authorities and not take the law into your hands,” he said.