12. THE ROLE OF THE CHURCH IN MITIGATING THE EFFECTS OF MIGRATION AND REFUGEE CRISES IN NIGERIA
Enebieni Enebieni Eko, Ph.D – Religious Studies Department
pastorekobi@gmail.com
Clifford University,Owerrinta, Abia State, Nigeria.
08036970755
Dimgba Dimgba Esowe, Ph.D – Religious Studies Department
ddeso2001@gmail.com
Clifford University,Owerrinta, Abia State, Nigeria.
08025465129
&
Iheanacho Medel Alala, Ph.D – Religious Studies Department
achiomalala@gmail.com
Clifford University,Owerrinta, Abia State, Nigeria.
08036713418
Abstract
The study reviewed some incidences of migration and refugee crises in Nigeria and the role that the Church plays in relieving the suffering of the victims of these crises. Migration and refugee crises in this study are involuntary displacement of people from their homes to other unintended vicinities for want of safety and survival. Most times these crises are caused by natural and man-made disasters such as floods, wars, insurgency, to mention but a few. These calamities ipso facto have rendered communities, towns, villages, and cities devastated, and their inhabitants dispersed and made homeless, abject, and their lives threatened. The paper aimed at investigating how the Christian Church in Nigeria has, in the recent past, encountered these crises, and to challenge the Church to be better informed and equipped to improve on this soul-saving scheme by adopting methods and approaches that could combat, minimize or eradicate where possible, the causative factors of some of these disasters and their effects on victims. The study adopted an investigative approach. It revealed that the Christian Church in Nigeria was not fully committed to solving migration and refugee crises in Nigeria, in the recent past, and there were scanty publications or news on her activities on migrants and refugees. Recommendations are made to Christian Church leaders to educate and encourage their Church members on the importance of caring for migrants and refugees, and to publish such activities in the media.
Keywords: The Church, Mitigating, Migration, Refugee, Crises.