Faithful in the fire: A story of healing in Nigeria
What happened to Asabe’s family was unthinkable. But even in the deepest pain, this Nigerian mother is finding strength to go on – thanks to you. Your support provided food when Asabe had nothing, and trauma healing to help her find peace.
It’s hard for Asabe* to remember that night. The worst of her life. She still remembers the words from the armed men: “Where is your God? He should come down so that we will kill Him before killing you, His followers.”
But bravely, Asabe shares what happened when extremists attacked her village in northern Nigeria, on April 14, 2025.
“Extremists surrounded our home. Then they came in and took my son, Jerry,” says Asabe. “He was 14 years old. They slaughtered him like an animal. Then they picked up James and Jacob…”
Her two younger sons, aged 10 and just two, were burned alive.
Asabe hid in a bathroom with her mother-in-law, knowing discovery meant certain death. Her husband, Moses, took cover in the ceiling of the house. But when attackers set fire to the building, Moses did not get out in time. He also died that night.
Asabe survived with her six-year-old daughter, Joanna. But her loss was unbearable.
As a mother, Asabe felt overwhelming guilt… could she have saved her boys? As a widow, she was vulnerable… how would they survive without Moses, their protector and provider? Asabe even considered ending her life.
A child’s comfort
Altogether, 52 people were killed that day – only one of many mass killings in Nigeria last year. The violence is meant to cripple the Church. Husbands are targeted because they are the providers and protectors and often leaders in the Church and community. Young boys are killed to erase a part of the future generation of the Church.
The day of the mass funeral, Asabe was in no condition to attend. This unavoidable absence has made grieving extremely difficult for her.
But the young mother is thankful for the comfort that Joanna, her youngest, brings. Though only six years old, the little girl reminds her mother of God’s justice and eternal hope. “Joanna says to me, ‘A day is coming that God will gather the evil and punish them.’ We have been rescued, and I will one day see [Joanna’s] dad and her siblings.’”
Finding peace
Your support and prayers arrived at just the right time.
A month after the attack, thanks to you, Open Doors partners arrived in the village with food for 150 Christian families, including Asabe, received 100kg of
maize, 25kg of rice, 25kg of beans and some money to buy seasonings and oil. It was a somber yet joyful moment for the community as they recalled their pain but thanked God for the aid. “People are providing these gifts because of God,” said Asabe. “May we be strengthened in our faith as we receive.”
Then, five months later, Asabe was invited to a five-day trauma care programme run by Open Doors. She received Biblical-based counselling to safely guide her through her grief and trauma. Incredibly, with your kind help, Asabe is beginning to find peace.
“I went back to study the Scriptures. What I learned is that God is the one who gives everything, and he is the one who takes back,” says Asabe. “Sincerely, when I came back from the healing, I was so happy for the teaching I received.”
“You provided these gifts because of God.”
Time has been a great healer, but Asabe continues to receive support and care from her community and Open Doors partners. She is also more motivated to live a life that honours God and serves her community.
Now, Asabe is doing the hard work of forgiving her attackers, and learning to love her neighbours again. But it’s a process, and she has joined a widows’ fellowship for support.
“I am flesh and blood, so even if I forgive, I sometimes become angry again,” says Asabe. “But God chose me and set me in a group of widows so we can encourage each other and pray together.”
She added, “Although we didn’t pick ourselves to be widows, God did and He will take care of us.”
In this faithful widow’s mind and heart, her prayer is clear: “God has left me for a purpose, and I’m asking Him to help me fulfil that purpose.”
Pray with Asabe
“Please pray for me because sometimes I relive the incident as if it happened today, and I continue to cry. Pray for my daughter Joanna, that she will grow to know Jesus.
“There are many widows like me in Nigeria. Pray God will strengthen us and make these attacks stop so we can go back to our home.”
*Names changed for their protection.
