Some of the foodstuffs and other items distributed to the mostly the Almajiri, beggars under the aegis of the Association of Persons with Disabilities at the Kano Road Central Mosque, Kaduna, in the state capital, included bags of rice, bags of maize, millets, as well as plastic kettles.
The General Overseer of the church, Pastor Yohanna Buru, while speaking to newsmen shortly after the distribution exercise, said the church was targeting over 1000 underprivileged Muslims across the North.
The cleric said the distribution of the foodstuff and other items was aimed at cushioning the effect of the naira redesign, fuel scarcity as well as hike in prices of foodstuffs on the underprivileged in the society.
In addition, Buru noted that the gesture was also aimed at strengthening the peaceful co-existence and religious tolerance among the residents of the states in the region.
“We are also reciprocating the gesture of Hajiya Ramatu Tijjani, a Muslim woman who shares bags of rice, cash and new clothes for the Church widows and orphans during Christmas, New Year and Easter celebrations,” he added.
According to him, last year, the church distributed bags of rice, maize and other food items to poor Muslims across five northern states to enable them to participate fully in the 30-day fasting and prayers in the month of Ramadan.
“In this year’s distribution, we added mats and plastic kettles so they could stay at home and pray for God to bring an end to the rising problems of insecurity, high inflation, and other problems bedevilling the peace and stability in the country.
“We are targeting over 1000 poor Muslims as we bought 50 bags of maize and millets to share in some parts of the North,” he added.
While appealing to well-meaning individuals to come to the aid of the less privileged, the cleric called on traders to desist from the arbitrary increase in prices of foodstuff during the Holy Month of Ramadan fasting.
“As Muslims around the world commence the 30 days fasting and prayers, we wish Muslims all over the world a happy Ramadan Kareem in advance,” he said.
Receiving the items, one of the leaders of the Association of Persons Living with Disabilities in the state, Mallam Hassan Mohammed, expressed delight over the gesture, which he said had spanned for over 10 years.
According to him, for the past 10 years the church has been consistent in giving the association foodstuff and other items for use during the 30 days of Ramadan.
He, therefore, appealed to wealthy Muslims “to help us with foodstuff to enable us stay at home and pray for the nation.”
“We really appreciate our Christian brothers and sisters because the help they rendered came at a point of need, when no one is bothered about us,” he added.
