“I can’t forget the love between us”: a widow’s memories

Deborah’s husband, Abel, was killed by radicalised Fulani militants in Burkina Faso. Open Doors trauma care can help start the healing.

Deborah was walking into town to buy flour on the day her husband was killed.  

“As I was going, I saw some young men running, and I asked what was wrong,” she remembers. “They said, ‘The village is under attack; the Fulani militants are attacking!’”  

Violent attacks against Christian communities are increasingly common in Burkina Faso and across sub-Saharan Africa. Hearing the news, Deborah turned around and started running back to her home, hoping to warn her husband, Abel, about the attack. When she got to the village, the militants were already there. “I went into my house, kneeled down and started praying,” she says. “Then one extremist Fulani militant came and stood by the door and said, ‘Woman, come out.’ But I didn’t go out, so he tired of calling me and went away.” 

When the militant had gone, Deborah ran into a nearby cornfield. There she lay until it was dark. Under cover of darkness, she ran to another village. “As I was about to enter, I heard the gunshots,” she shares. “I said, ‘Our husbands will not survive’, and started weeping.” 

Hearing terrible news 

She managed to evade the attackers, but lost everything she owned. “I didn’t leave with anything – our possessions, the children’s clothes, they were all burnt,” she remembers. “Our cattle were chased away. I was praying to God to help us.” 

The next day, she returned to her village. One of her neighbours told Deborah that her husband, Abel, was one of the 31 people who’d been murdered by the extremists. 

“I have been through a lot of difficulties since my husband passed away, difficulties to find enough food for me and my children,” says Deborah. “My husband used to take care of me and my children, but now everything is on me. How can I take care of everything?” 

Open Doors trauma care 

Local Open Doors partners came to support the grieving community – with crucial aid for the short-term, and with trauma care to enable the believers to heal and persevere for the longer-term. 

“The trauma training was very helpful in terms of finding peace with myself,” shares Deborah. “I found strength to move forward in life. When we were in hardships, we didn’t have anyone to confide in. The training gave us strength, courage and healing. 

“When you are sick and you don’t have any medicine, it will be difficult to get healed. But if you get medicine, you will be healed. The training was actually a good medicine.” 

She adds: “As of now, I am healed. I don’t have any bitterness in my heart and I cast everything in the hands of God.” 

Remembering Abel 

Deborah, like all those who lose their loved ones, wants to honour the memory of her husband. She is keen to share what he was like with others who didn’t know him. 

“My husband loved me and my children,” she says. “He used to take care of me. We never lacked food or livestock. There was a lot of love and he was devoted to worshipping God. He was always going to church and he used to play drums there.  

“Today, if I go to church and see the drum player, I shed tears. What I can’t forget is the love that existed between us, all the things that he used to do for me. His death pains me a lot.” 

Will you give, pray and speak out in memory of Abel? Today, your gift and prayers can help start the healing for our African brothers and sisters – and, by signing and sharing the Arise Africa petition, you can help stop the violence. Do it in memory of the martyrs.