When Pastor ‘Bandiba’s’ village in Burkina Faso was attacked, he wasn’t at home. Had he been, he might have been consumed by the flames that reduced his house to ashes. The attackers knew that he lived there.
But it wasn’t the only target – the church at the heart of the village, which had been growing steadily for years, became the victim of a vicious onslaught by extremists. In the attack, Bandiba lost two friends and church leaders, Amadou and Jeremia – young men with a deep passion for the gospel. Pogniagou, Amadou’s wife, lost a husband. Despite such loss and pain, the church has not given up faith. With the help of trauma caregivers and your support, Bandiba and his community are on the road to healing.
VIDEO SCRIPT
In response to increasing attacks on Christians in Burkina Faso. Pastor Bandiba’s church started a 24/7 prayer group.
For years their village wasn’t targeted by extremists.
But in May 2025, the village was attacked by jihadists looking for Bandiba. He was away at the time.
Pastor Bandiba
When I returned to my house, I saw that the attackers had burned down everything. My house, the huts and all my belongings. Everything was destroyed.
Pogniagou – Eyewitness
We thought that the terrorists wouldn’t enter the church because we were praying. One of the believers in the church was so terrified he couldn’t even close his eyes to pray. He watched as the terrorists entered the building. He saw that they killed the two men, while we were praying with our eyes closed.
Pogniagou’s husband Amadou was one of the two men killed in the church.
Bandiba
I asked where Jeremia and Amabou were. They told me that their dead bodies had been covered with cloth inside the church. I ran there to see for myself. I lay down beside their bodies because at that moment I thought that dying with Jeremia and Amadou was better than facing another day.
Pogniagou
My husband will be remembered as a great singer. He sang beautifully and wrote songs especially for weddings. I remember this song:
We need patience to learn the will of God let’s be very patient. We will learn to do the will of God if we are patient.
Open Doors partners are providing the community with trauma care to help start healing after the attack.
Pogniagou
The trainer helped us to bring our sufferings to the cross. She asked us to write down all our distress and ordeals one a piece of paper and then burn it at the foot of the cross.
Just as the papers turned to ashes, so we can believe that God has taken away our grief.
Bandiba
Amadou was the youth leader of the church. But what struck me most was that he was pure-hearted loving the Lord with all his heart. The whole village witnesses his love for the Lord. The passing of these two leaders was truly a great loss to the church.
Pogniagou
We know that if we were able to see where he is now we would long to be there as well.
People Interviewed and their Titles
Pastor Bandiba
Pogniagou
Recording Location
Burkina Faso
Organization featured in this Story
Open Doors UK – www.opendoorsuk.org
Producing Organization
Open Doors UK – www.opendoorsuk.org
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