Pope Francis continues to call attention to the suffering of persecuted Christians. Speaking just recently on the Feast of St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr, he urged the world not to turn a blind eye to their plight.
Nigeria remains at the epicenter of this crisis. Fides reports that 13 Catholic missionaries were murdered worldwide last year, with Africa facing the worst violence. According to the latest Open Doors report, the country recorded the highest number of Christian killings and kidnappings in 2024.
Yet, despite the dangers, faith endures. One such believer is Afordia, a survivor of a brutal Boko Haram attack in Nigeria.
Hannah Brockhaus, Senior Vatican Correspondent, sits down with Afordia:
“Afordia, would you please share with me your story? What happened to you and your family?”
Afordia, Christian survivor of terrorist attack:
What happened to us on that 29th October 2014 in Mubi was an attack from Boko Haram terrorists. The Boko Haram started asking him a question: ‘Are you a Muslim or an infidel?’ He said, ‘I’m not a Muslim, I’m not an infidel. I’m a Christian.’ Then he was asked to go to the right side of the road, which he did. Immediately, he went and knelt down and was praying. Actually, I did not know what was the content of his prayer, but suddenly I saw the Boko Haram now shooting him, and they shot him five times on the head, which led to his death.
And after they finished killing him, they came back to me again. They were asking me a question: ‘Who are you? Are you a Christian or an infidel?’ I said, ‘Same as my husband is.’ But in my case, I closed my eyes. I was so afraid, scared to see how they would kill me. I raised my two hands to the sky. I was praying in my heart, ‘Lord, receive my soul today because I will go and see You.’ So, in that position, I heard a shout from the other side, from the Boko Haram themselves: ‘Stop it! Who asked you to kill this woman? Leave her alone. Allow her to go!’ And that was how I opened my eyes again, and their guns were down. They said, ‘Madam, you can go.
Hannah Brockhaus, Senior Vatican Correspondent:
Since this cost you so much in your life, why it is you choose to continue to be a Christian?
Afordia, Christian survivor of terrorist attack:
“Christianity is the truth. Forgiveness of sins is with God, is with Christ, not anybody. You pray in His name, and He will forgive your sin—except in Christ. So that gives me courage to go on. Even if today they will kill me, even if they will piece my body, I will not stop following Christ because He is the Savior of this body and the Savior of this life.”
Hannah Brockhaus, Senior Vatican Correspondent:
What do you wish other Christians knew about what has gone on and what continues to go on in Nigeria?
Afordia, Christian survivor of terrorist attack:
Living in Sub-Saharan areas where Boko Haram operates, there are so many terrorists. Sometimes it’s better to be killed with a gun than to be tied up and have fire set under you, roasting you like meat. In fact, it’s better to be killed with a gun than to be roasted or have your neck cut and then set on fire.
All these things are happening. They will dig a hole, put someone inside, and begin to stone them until they die. So many cruel things are happening.
I want Christians in places with less persecution to pray for Christians over there—that God would deliver them, that God would see them and rescue them. Also, pray for Boko Haram, that they will be saved, that Jesus will reveal Himself to their hearts so they will repent of this cruelty they are committing.
Afordia is a mother of five children and has five grandchildren. She is a pastor at Triumph of Faith Pentecostal Church in Mubi, where she helps teach the faith. Before the attack, she was a community health worker, supporting pregnant women and administering vaccines. She also worked at her church, farmed her own food, and raised poultry. Now retired, she still grows vegetables and remains active in her church community, which currently has around 50 members. Many people did not return to Mubi after its liberation following the attack.
Adapted by Jacob Stein
