Some prominent Christian leaders, including Yomi Kasali, Ayo Oritsejafor, Mike Okonkwo of TREM, Yusuf Biniyat, and Isa el Buba, among others on Monday night, attended a concert to raise funds for victims of insurgency in the North.

The Foundation of Truth Assembly Church in Lagos organised the concert at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island. The concert, which kicked off at about 5:00 p.m., ended at about 11:40 p.m.

The concert was aimed at garnering sympathy and creating awareness of the plight of victims of insurgency in the North. The Christian leaders used the event to seek ways to assist the victims.

The concert also had in attendance some widows from the northern region, who narrated how they lost their husbands to attacks and the harsh reality they faced, taking care of the children alone.

The evening concert featured music performances by prominent Nigerian gospel artistes, including Mike Abdul, Kaestring, Abbey Ojomu, Wisdom Chigozie and others, who rendered songs to stir state actors to end insurgency in the country.

Speaking at the event, the convener, who doubles as the senior pastor of FOTA, Mr Kasali, said Christians in the North needed the empathy of their counterparts in the South to keep faith.

According to him, politicians’ polarisation of the body of Christ in the country after the 2015 general elections contributed to some of the country’s insecurity crisis.

“It is regrettable that some Christians remain aloof of their responsibilities toward their brethren in the North. It is no longer fashionable to remain on the fence but to take a step to aid those who had lost their breadwinners because of ongoing insurgency and banditry in the North.

“We have taken measures to raise funds to ensure that most families and victims are catered for. The children who lost their fathers will go back to school, feed and get medicare through the funds. We cannot do beyond this as a body, but we will continue to pray that this challenge will be halted soon,” he said.

Mr Biniyat, leader of the northern delegate, urged people to help victims with relief materials and rebuilding schemes for society.

(NAN)