Fear no more the darkness
Fear no more the darkness
"I am afraid but I stand on my feet because of my faith..."
In northern Nigeria, Tobias Yahaya—a catechist and Christian teacher—was home with his wife and young child one evening, lying in bed when extremists broke into his home and stabbed him in the chest. The attackers lunged again, however Tobias managed to fight back protecting his family and raising the alarm.
Miraculously, the blade missed his vital organs by just a few inches. Within three months, Tobias was back serving as a catechist at Holy Family Catholic Cathedral in Sokoto, determined to continue his mission despite the trauma which still affects him to this day.
“Every time I hear a loud sound, it shakes me. Sometimes, when I put on my cassock, I am afraid but I stand on my feet because of my faith...
“We have read how Jesus suffered for us. We will do whatever it takes to share our faith.”
“Every time I hear a loud sound, it shakes me. Sometimes, when I put on my cassock, I am afraid but I stand on my feet because of my faith...
“We have read how Jesus suffered for us. We will do whatever it takes to share our faith.”
His courage is a living witness to Christ’s words: “Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)
For his courage, faith, and continued work with the Catholics and Christians in northern Nigeria, ACN awarded Tobias with the "Courage to be Christian award" at our #RedWednesday Holy Mass event which took place at St George’s Cathedral in London as we stand in solidarity for Christians that face suffering round the world.
Update, 20/11/2025: Tobias tearfully accepted his award which was presented to him by bishop Nicholas Hudson. On receiving the award, Tobias shared his story to a cathedral full of people hanging on his every word.
His story of facing-death, the strength to find forgiveness, and his perseverance to continue to do his work moved the everyone in cathedral. Many people spoke after the event of the impact his story had on them personally, and many gathered to speak to Tobias.
His story helps us recognise not only the troubles faced by millions of faithful every year around the world, but shows just how strong God's love is, and how much faith means to us as a Christian family. Even in the face of death, Tobias strength was unwavering, the true definition of courage.
