The village of Adama Dutse in Nigeria has triumphed over despair, proving that violence will not have the final word through its faith, persistence, and help from ACN. On 27 May 2026, the Archbishop of Kaduna visited this remote location to celebrate Mass with his faithful. This was no ordinary pastoral visit, but the celebration of a victory over death, hatred, and discrimination. Just over two years after the total destruction of the village of Adama Dutse by terrorists, and thanks to the aid of Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), the reconstruction of over 20 houses and common infrastructure was successfully completed. The Mass was one of rejoicing, but also of remembering those who are no longer present.
The brutal terrorist attack on the village of Adama Dutse
On 18 February 2024, terrorists launched a violent assault on the Catholic village of Adama Dutse, located in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, at 06:10 AM as the local population prepared for Mass. Shortly afterwards, 13 people were lying dead and many houses in the area had been burned to the ground. Two months later, an ACN delegation visited the remains of the community alongside Archbishop Matthew Ndagoso of Kaduna. Kinga Schierstaedt, ACN’s project coordinator for Africa, was immediately struck by the heavy military escort required to clear the way safely.
Regarding the initial assessment, project coordinator Schierstaedt described the severe conditions of the town:
“I think it’s the first time I was accompanied by such a large military presence. I remember two military cars in front, two cars behind, and some police or military motorcycles that were clearing the way, making sure no one was hidden behind the trees. The people were happy to see the archbishop, but you could see such great suffering on the faces of all the inhabitants. We did a tour of the village, and almost all the houses were burned; only black ruins from the fire remained. Everything was destroyed, melted, and every single inhabitant was affected”.
She also vividly recalled the severe physical trauma inflicted upon the youngest members of the community:
“I remember a boy who bore the scars from two bullets in his arm and who will never be able to use it again because he wasn’t treated immediately in a hospital. I remember a tiny little girl, around three years old, who was left with burns on her arms and on part of her face, and who cried constantly from the pain she still endured”.
Faith, determination, and structural reconstruction
Archbishop Ndagoso led the delegation to a mass grave on the outskirts of the town where the victims had been buried hastily. Despite the intense hardship, the local population firmly refused to abandon their land for an IDP camp, choosing instead to stay and rebuild with an ACN promise of support. Schierstaedt shared the Archbishop’s pastoral reasoning for backing their determination:
“The archbishop told us that he wanted to help the people, and even though he couldn’t bring the dead back to life, he thought he could at least help the living in their desire to stay there, to rebuild the houses and the church. That was the reason why international charity ACN decided to help them, to give them a sign that there are at least some people in the world who acknowledge their suffering and want to help them”.
Two years later, the reconstruction of the community is fully complete. Thanks to the support of ACN benefactors, the area now boasts a new modern well, latrines, and solar-powered security alarms. On 27 May 2026, when Archbishop Ndagoso returned to celebrate the thanksgiving Mass, the change in atmosphere was palpable, with faces beaming with pride. The Archbishop concluded with profound gratitude:
“It was a beautiful ceremony. The community was so delighted and happy that we had done this for them. They are not only grateful but indebted to those who made it possible for them to have a permanent shelter. We can never thank the benefactors of ACN enough for what they have done to help those in need. We can only hope that God will bless those who have contributed. It is really wonderful. The community is deeply, deeply grateful”.
