Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in all the major camps in Adamawa State lamented their alleged abandonment on Christmas Day by most of the political leaders in the state. A survey our correspondent carried out in the camps revealed that the IDPs were left on their own during the Christmas period. Only the Catholic Church and the Veterinary Medicine Association of Nigeria distributed food items to about 4000 IDPs.
Speaking during the occasion, Rev Father Maurice Kwairanga, said about 4000 IDPs were given assorted food items for Christmas. But he said the church could not do so for other IDPs for lack of resources adequate resources.
The Veterinary Medicine Association of Nigeria had previously donated four specially bred bulls to the internally displaced persons at Damare Camp for the celebration of Christmas and Eid el Mouloud by the Christian and Muslim faithful respectively, who were accommodated in the camp following their escape from the dens of Boko Haram insurgents earlier in 2015.
At the Malkohi Camp, one of the IDPs, Miss Fatima James, recalled that the previous year when political activities were in top gear.
Another IDP, Hajiya Maryam, said at the Damare Camp that unlike the previous year there was nothing for them during the just concluded Christmas.
She said: “By this time last year (2014), there were many cows in this camp for IDPs. But this Christmas, nobody brought anything to us. We are celebrating Christmas on empty stomachs. Only the NGOs are helping us here at the camp.”
Veterinary doctors in Adamawa State also lent helping hands by donating cows to the IDPs. The President of the Veterinary Doctors Association, Dr Edgar Amos, who made the donation at the camp, told newsmen that the cows were donated to identify with the displaced persons and enable them celebrate the birthday of Jesus Christ.
He noted that insurgency had affected all sections of the society, “including our association. We lost two of our members to Boko Haram attacks. These cows were specially bred for the IDPs for the celebration of Christmas.”
He said the association considered it necessary to identify with the displaced persons in celebrating the birthday of Jesus Christ along with other Nigerian Christians.
According to him, what unites Nigerians irrespective of religious background are more fundamental than what divides them, saying that the interval in the celebration was not only coincidence but designed by God to Nigerians some lessons for them to continue to emphasize on unity in the country.
The Nigeria Veterinary Doctors Medical Association, is the umbrella body of veterinary doctors in Nigeria and the mandate include the prevention, and control of animals diseases which are diseases that are common between man and animals.
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