On 24 December 2023, militant Fulani herdsmen launched a series of attacks on Christian villages in Plateau State, Nigeria. Ladi’s* husband had already been killed in a previous attack. She herself would only narrowly escape on that night last Christmas.
But now she is receiving help to deal with the trauma she encountered thanks to support from the ministry Open Doors.
*Name changed for security reasons.
Source: www.opendoorsuk.org
SCRIPT:
Ladi*
“Every night when I sleep I have nightmares of Fulanis, gulfs of land. And when I wake up, it seems like I see them. And I cannot go back to sleep in that door. This is what’s troubling me.”
On the 24th of December, 2023 militant Fulani herdsmen launched a series of attacks on Christian villages in Plateau State, Nigeria.
Ladi’s husband had already been killed in a previous attack. She herself would only narrowly escape on that night last Christmas.
“As I was laying on my bed, two Fulani men and my room, they pulled back my blankets and said, madam. And I said, yes. Where is your husband? I got up confused and wondered what to say if I said that my husband had already been killed they might kill me. They said. Tell us where your husband went.
“One had a gun and the other did not. Then I told them that my husband went outside. Your husband has gone out? I said yes. Then they told me not to leave and they ran out. But I ran away and started shouting.”
Ladi found help from a young man in the village. They hid together in some grass until they heard the Fulani militants approaching.
“So then I stood up and ran. Then he stood up too. But as he stood up, they shot him and he died. And then I saw that I was on the ground. I forgot that I had a torchlight because I was very confused. Then they came and cut my hand that held the light and called me trash and an adulteress daughter.
“Since he cut my hand, I did not know if my neck would be next. But God helped me. Many of them passed me by while I was on the ground. I lay down there and when I did not hear any more movement, I said to myself, since I’m still alive, there are some trees and rocks up there. Let me try and move to that small bush that’s clse by and hide there. If God says I will survive, then I will survive.”
Ladi lay hidden and injured and was eventually rescued. But 16 people were killed in the attack on her village. After her traumatic experience, she was invited to the Open Doors Trauma Center where she could be encouraged in her face.
“Since I came here, I have not been having nightmares because of what they have been teaching us from the Word of God. Honestly. God has helped me and I am grateful. I am really happy with the counselling I had now. May God help me to put these changes into effect when I return.”
Story Provided By:
Open Doors UK
Producing Organization
Open Doors UK – www.opendoorsuk.org
Recording Location
Nigeria
Organization featured in this Story
Open Doors UK – www.opendoorsuk.org
People Interviewed and their Titles
*Ladi – name changed for security reasons.
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