NBC News has the story of a Nigerian Christian man who was shot by Boko Haram terrorists for refusing to renounce his Christian faith. This man’s name is Habila Adamu, and he was attacked by the same group of terrorists who recently abducted 200 Nigerian school girls. They broke into his home, shot him, and left him for dead all in full view of his wife and son. It’s a miracle that he is alive. It’s even more a miracle that he stood.
You must read his story in his own words. Below is an extended excerpt from the NBC News report:
A father who was shot point-blank in the face by Boko Haram recounted how the militants asked whether he was “prepared to die as a Christian” and then left for dead.
Habila Adamu, 40, was so badly wounded in the attack that he said goodbye to his wife as blood poured from a gaping wound.
The father-of-one said the April 15 capture by Boko Haram of more than 200 girls from a boarding school brought back painful memories of the night he was shot and beaten in his home.
“When I heard about those girls I started to pray,” Adamu told NBC News on Tuesday. “Boko Haram have no mercy. All they want to do is drive the Christian community out of northern Nigeria and they won’t stop until they do it.”
Many of the minority Christians in Yobe province were fearful of Boko Haram because the militants had attacked homes and businesses in the region, according to Adamu.
“They asked whether I was prepared to die as a Christian … My wife was crying but I could not deny Christ”
The businessman initially thought they were soldiers on patrol near his home one night in November 2012.
“But when I saw their robes and AK-47 rifles I knew they were not from the army,” he said. “They told me they were there to do the work of Allah.”
With his wife Vivian and son David, now aged seven, looking on, four men forced their way indoors and asked whether he was a member of the police force or army. He told them he was not.
“Then they asked me whether I would convert to Islam and when I refused they asked whether I was prepared to die as a Christian. My wife was crying but I could not deny Christ. I felt powerful, unafraid, I don’t know why.”
Before he could refuse a second time, a bullet pierced his neck.
“I fell on the ground,” Adamu said. “They thought I was dead because they stomped on me twice and shouted ‘Allahu Akbar’ or ‘God is great.'”
Adamu mustered the strength to talk to his wife before slipping out of consciousness.
“She was crying so many tears,” he said. “Neither of us thought I would survive so I told her that to live in this world was to live for Christ. I told her to look after our son and herself.”
“A doctor told my wife there was no point in treating me”
Recovering her composure, Vivian ran to find help from fellow members of the Christian community – only to find that militants had killed 12 others.
Too scared to leave the house, she tended to her husband for eight hours. At first light, she was able to arrange transport to a nearby medical center.
“When they saw the wound, a doctor told my wife there was no point in treating me,” Adamu said. “I had lost so much blood.”
However, they gave him painkillers and transferred him to the Jos University Hospital, hundreds of miles further south, where doctors funded by the non-profit organization Voice of Martyrs were able to treat him.
Adamu’s condition gradually stabilized and he was discharged about two weeks later.
I thank God that He spared Adamu’s life. I thank Him even more that He gave Adamu the courage to stand. Read the rest here.
“Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when men cast insults at you, and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, on account of Me. Rejoice, and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” – Matthew 5:10-12
26 Comments
bobbistowellbrown
Will we be able to stand if this should happen to us? Praying for Nigeria. May God’s word go out to instruct the people in the ways of the Lord here and into all the world, and my many heart turn to Him before it is too late.
Paul Reed
Very powerful, and a true testament to our faith. It certainly shows that following Christ involves dying to our self and carrying our cross, which may mean losing our lives, losing our health, catching flack for defending marriage and the unborn, or losing all of our property.
joeyespinosa
“Catching flack” is very different than willingly losing out on something (property, job, or life).
Ian Shaw
Praise God. This is an amazing story. I pray I am able to have that kind of faith.
“To live in this world, is to live for Christ”. Just awesome.
I hear this group is pretty messed up and even the Taliban are scared of them.
James Stanton
“I hear this group is pretty messed up and even the Taliban are scared of them.”
I think that’s probably a just a bit of useful hyperbole in comparing extremists as the Taliban are well known for their own violent treatment of civilians and attempts to crush “western education”. See Malala, the Pakistani schoolgirl who was shot by the Taliban.
Ian Shaw
I’ll have to apologize. Westen media only tells facts using half truths and is generally biased to one side or the other.
Jason Alligood
Al Mohler actually cites this from Al Qaeda in this podcast – http://www.albertmohler.com/2014/05/12/the-briefing-05-12-14/
Ian Shaw
That might have been where I heard it the other day. I try to listen to his stuff at work in the mornings.
buddyglass
How would the Taliban even come into contact with Boko Haram? The former is only in Afghanistan; the latter only in Nigeria, Cameroon and Niger.
Jason Alligood (@doogilla)
Ummmm, did you bother listening to Mohler’s broadcast or are you just speculating?
James Stanton
I wasn’t trying to start an argument. I think it’s obvious that the media tries to draw a contrast between extremist groups to sensationalize a current news story. No one here would be surprised if Al Qaeda or the Taliban decided to kidnap schoolgirls and sell them or ransom them in order to free captive members. That’s why they are extremists. Their statement is simply propaganda.
Ian Shaw
Understood, Mohler did make a mention in the podcast that al queda mentioned in a video cast that the news of what this group did brings fear to al queda and the level of violence is at a level that truobles the group. Granted, trying to subject “level of violence” to gradation is folly. Violence is violence.
buddyglass
Actually I hadn’t read the other replies to Ian before making my own. Once I saw yours I didn’t click on the link because I assumed it went to Mohler’s podcast and not to a transcript.
Having just read it, Mohler is riffing on a NYT article that doesn’t actually support the idea that Al Qaeda is “afraid” of Boko Haram. Al Qaeda groups may think Boko Haram is too extreme and is giving their movement a bad name, or they may view them as competition in the race to snatch up African affiliates, but that’s not exactly the same as “fearing” them.
Chris Ryan
We often see ppl toss around “tyranny”, “oppression”, “discrimination” in relation to the treatment of Christians by the Obama Administration, for instance in talking abt Obamacare. How entitled we’ve become. This shows us what true tyranny, oppression, and discrimination look like! God bless those poor ppl.
Brian Darby
Mr. Burk do you know of a way we can send financial help to this man and his family? I did have a long diatribe about religion but that is not important, I dont share your religious beliefs but I would like to help this fine person and his family with what little I thanks, have a nice day.
Denny Burk
I wish I knew how to contact him, but I don’t. Thanks!
Micheal Spence
you can send money to voice of the Martyrs they help people in this situation but no idea how you can get into contact with him. maybe if you could get onto a voice of the martyrs worker that spends time over there that’s the only way i think to give money to him
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Jeff Atnip
Because this world is cursed. Death and other evils will remain until Jesus returns.
Ken Abbott
“If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” (John 21:22)
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matt
Our Lord God Jesus Christ be with us Always! His Love Never Fails, He is Greatest of All, He is King of all kings and Lord of all lords, The end time is coming and it is near.. Please Spread the word of God and Who really He is..
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