‘God has left me [here] for a purpose’: A Nigerian widow’s testimony

Asabe* still remembers the words from the armed herdsmen: “Where is your God? He should come down so that we will kill Him before killing you, His followers.’”

On April 14, 2025, around midnight, militants stormed her community in northern Nigeria’s Plateau State. She and her children were asleep in different rooms when they woke to the sound of gunshots. Before she and her husband, Moses, could respond, the men were at their door.

The militants brutally killed Asabe’s 3 sons.

“They came in and took my son, Jerry. He was 14 years old … and they slaughtered him like an animal,” she recalls painfully. Jerry was her eldest. “Then they picked James and Jacob…” Her sons, only 10 and 2 years old, were burned alive.

Asabe, her young daughter Joanna and her mother-in-law remained huddled inside the bathroom. Moses hid in the ceiling, knowing he would be killed next.

The attackers set the house on fire and left Asabe and her remaining family to burn. When the heat from the flames grew unbearable, she decided to risk it and get out. When she screamed for help, villagers came to their rescue. Then she remembered Moses was still in the house…

“I stood and watched my neighbours carry my husband out in their arms,” she says.

That night, Asabe became a widow and single mother.

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. Young boys are killed to erase future generations of Christians.

The day of the mass funeral, Asabe was in no condition to attend. The unavoidable absence has made grieving extremely difficult.

But the young mother is thankful for the comfort that Joanna brings. Though only six years old, the little girl reminds her mother of God’s justice and eternal hope. Asabe recalls: “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.”

Joanna’s words and God’s eternal promise bring Asabe strength.

“The third day after the incident, I became strong and stopped crying, and God sent the Holy Spirit, and He comforted me,” she says.

Asabe with Joanna

A widow's faith

For Asabe, the trauma brought depression and high blood pressure. The anger and bitterness could have easily consumed her. But after the attack, Open Doors’ local partners invited Asabe to be part of a five-day trauma care program.

At the trauma centre, she received Scripture-based counselling and learned about God’s sovereignty in the book of Job.

She says: “What I learned from these verses is that God is the one who gives everything, and He is one who takes them back at the time He deems fit. Even my children that I am mourning for...”

Asabe also walked with caregivers who safely took her through the process of grief and forgiveness.

Asabe holding the hands of her caregiver

“Sincerely, when I came back from healing, I was so happy for the teaching I received,” she says thankfully. Today, she is even able to speak to Fulani people and talk about God with them.

Asabe continues to receive support and care from Open Doors partners and is also more motivated to serve others. She is part of a widows’ group.

“God Himself chose me and set me in a group of widows … so that we can encourage each other,” she explains. “We tell God we are grateful because we did not pick ourselves to be widows. But He is the one who selected us, and He knows how He will take care of us.”

In this faithful widow’s mind and heart, her prayer is clear: “God has left me [here] for a purpose, and I am asking Him to help me fulfil it.”

In northern Nigeria, Christians like Asabe require integrated help to remain faithful witnesses. Through relief aid, trauma care, widow support and socioeconomic development, Open Doors is helping Christians live lives that glorify God.

*Name changed for security reasons

please pray

• Pray for Asabe that she will be comforted by the Lord whenever she recalls her trauma and cries.
• Pray for Asabe’s daughter Joanna, that she will grow to know Jesus.
• Pray for all the widows in Nigeria. God will strengthen them and stop these attacks so that they can return home.

please give

• Every HK$225 could provide trauma care to a persecuted Christian, and bring hope and healing.
• Every HK$420 could equip a leader like Pastor Michée to provide trauma care to their community.
• Every HK$510 could provide one believer with medicine and shelter, and long-term support.

*Any excess funds from this appeal will be used to strengthen other persecuted Christians where urgent help is needed.