On Sunday, Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno urged Christians to pray for the 1.5 million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who have lost their homes and loved ones.
In his Christmas message to the people of the state, the governor also urged Christians to extend their hands of fellowship to the less privileged.
“While citizens who are not directly affected by the insurgency are planning to enjoy the long Christmas holiday, they should make out time to think about the severe trauma faced by over 1.5 million sons and daughters of Borno State.
“They have been forced out of their communities to either become Internally Displaced Persons in camps, or live in strange places that include taking refuge outside Nigeria.
“I, on behalf of Borno State Government, felicitate with my Christian brothers and sisters in Borno State at Christmas and pray for a peaceful and joyful celebration,” he said.
According to him, the state government has been working in phases to restore infrastructures destroyed by insurgents for normalcy to return to communities affected by violence.
He therefore called on the people to support the government in overcoming the security challenges.
Also, Rev. Istifanus Koce of ECWA Goodnews Church Kuje on Sunday admonished Nigerians to ensure peaceful co-existence in the interest of national development.
Koce gave the charge in the Church to mark the last Sunday service and Christmas celebration in Kuje.
He enjoined all Nigerians to use the Christmas celebration to promote peace, unity and extend hands of friendship to the needy in order to improve on their living standard.
“This marks the last Sunday of the year and I want to encourage you all to show love to one another as Christ taught us.
“As we are all aware that Christmas celebration is about drawing closer to God, it is about service to God, it is about forgiveness and it is about showing love to one another.
“I urge Christians and other Nigerians to show love; that is what God expects us to do at all the time so as to promote peaceful co-existence among ourselves irrespective of our background.
“We must also shun negative tendencies at all times in order to inherit the kingdom of God as well as for peace to reign in our society,’’ he said.
Koce said that God who created human beings did not make a mistake but created them to show love, unity, peace and to tolerate one another.
