The Northern chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has delivered humanitarian assistance to 1,000 displaced households in Borno State, in a renewed intervention targeting victims of the Boko Haram insurgency.
The relief effort, funded by UK-based charity Barnabas Aid, reached vulnerable families in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps and host communities in Maiduguri. Beneficiaries received staple food items, including 25kg bags of rice, garri, maize, and beans, as well as vegetable oil, palm oil, seasoning, and salt.
The distribution forms part of a broader outreach programme being implemented across Benue, Plateau, Kaduna, and Ondo states, aimed at mitigating the effects of prolonged displacement and insecurity in northern Nigeria.
Flagging off the exercise at the Pentecostal Believers Covenant Church (PBCC) in Gomari Airport, Maiduguri, Chairman of Northern CAN, Reverend Joseph John Hayab, described the intervention as critical support for families facing the realities of displacement.
He noted that the initiative builds on efforts that commenced in December last year, adding that Borno remains among the worst-affected states, with many households still struggling to recover.
“We are here not just to distribute food items, but to remind you that you are not forgotten,” Hayab said, describing the outreach as a demonstration of compassion in action.
He commended Barnabas Aid for its sustained support, noting that the assistance to 1,000 households represents a significant intervention at a critical time.
Hayab also called for peace and unity, urging Nigerians to reject violence and embrace tolerance across religious and ethnic lines. He emphasised that lasting recovery depends on collective healing and mutual respect.
Secretary-General of Northern CAN and Chairman of CAN North East Zone, Bishop Mohammed Naga, described the intervention as timely, assuring that distribution would be carried out transparently.
Representatives of beneficiaries, including Mr. Andrawus Bzalava, Mr. John Dogo, and Mrs. Naomi Daniel, a widow and survivor of insurgent attacks, expressed gratitude for the support, describing it as relief amid deepening economic hardship and insecurity.
