June 2, 2025

The Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC) of Catholic Archdiocese of Jos and Pankshin Diocese, have rehabilitated 135 houses for victims of attacks in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau.

Ms. Benedicta Daber, the Coordinator of JDPC Jos, disclosed this during the closing meeting of its project tagged “Plateau Emergency Response in Bokkos LGA” in Jos.

She specifically said that the rehabilitated houses were the ones destroyed during the 2023 Christmas eve attacks in the locality.

Daber said that the project was supported by the Catholic Relief Service (CRS) and funded by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

She further said that JDPC had also constructed 90 Ventilated Improved Pit (VIP) latrines and upgraded nine hand-pump boreholes with solar facilities under the ten months-old project.

“Under the project, we also supported 224 farmers with modern farm inputs to boost both wet and dry season farming.

“We also donated hygiene kits to 200 women in the locality,”she said.

Speaking, Bishop Michael Gokum of Pankshin Catholic diocese, thanked JDPC and CRS for providing succuor to his people.

Represented by Rev. Fr. Paul Watpe, the Vicar General of the diocese, Gokum decried the spate of insecurity in some part of the diocese.

He particularly called on the government and the security agencies to intensify efforts towards curbing the menace.

“Our diocese consist of five Local Government Areas (LGAs) and Bokkos is among the LGAs experiencing consistent attacks and wanton destruction of lives and property.

“But we are grateful to JDPC, CRS and the funders for this timely intervention; it has brought succour to our people.

“We want to call on the government and the security agencies to put measures in place to address the rising security challenges in our dear state.

“Our people are suffering and something needs to be done urgently,”he said.

Mr. Wilson Kipkoech, the Emergency Coordinator of CRS- Nigeria, said that the project aimed at restoring dignity and strengthening community resilience towards sustainable recovery in the locality.

On his part, Mr. Danjuma Rafan, the District Head of Mbar, whose subjects benefitted from the intervention, also commended JDPC and CRS for the gesture.

He said that the gesture had made significant impact on the lives of his people, particularly in the areas of shelter and improved access to clean water.

“This intervention is massive; it has made majority of the displaced families to return to their original homes.

“Our people are largely farmers, so, the farm inputs will go a long way to support their farming activities.

“With the latrines and functional solar-powered boreholes, the issue of open defecation will soon be a thing of the past in Bokkos,”he said.(NAN)