‘We can’t thank you enough’ says archbishop after terror hit village rebuilt with charity’s help

AN archbishop whose community in north-west Nigeria was devastated by bandits has said he can’t thank a Catholic charity enough for the aid given to his people in need. 

Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) has helped rebuild Adama Dutse in Kajuru, Kaduna State, which was attacked in the early hours of Sunday, 18th February 2024. 

The attack left 11 dead – four men, two women and five children – and 12 injured as well as resulting in the destruction of 28 houses and the local Catholic church.

On Wednesday, 27th May 2026, the community, led by Archbishop Matthew Ndagoso of Kaduna, celebrated the completion and handover of 20 houses fitted with solar-powered security alarms and also four community toilets for victims of the banditry.

Archbishop Matthew told ACN: “It was a beautiful ceremony. We can never thank the benefactors of ACN enough for what they have done to help those in need. 

“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 only hope that God will bless those who have contributed. It is really wonderful. The community is deeply, deeply grateful.”

Archbishop Ndagoso said that two months after the attack in 2024 he met ACN (UK) national director Dr Caroline Hull who was on a project trip to Nigeria.

The archbishop, who is also the president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, said: “When the attacks happened, the community was devastated but they said they did not want to leave and enter IDP [internally displaced persons] camps. They wanted to stay. 

“If they leave their ancestral lands they will not get them back. They said they will stay come what may. That spurred us to get help

“ACN happened to be with us soon after and we went to visit Adam Dutse. They wanted to hear from the people themselves. The people said they did not want to disperse. They were determined to stay. ACN said they were interested in helping and gave us funds and the rest is history.

“When the building work was finished, we went to hand the buildings over to the community concerned.”

Dr Hull said when ACN visited Adama Dutse shortly after the bloodshed, nearly everyone had returned to what was left of their homes and their livelihoods.

She said on Tuesday (2nd June): “I am delighted the community have been able to complete these shelters. 

“I visited Adama Dutse just six weeks after it had been torched, leaving many dead and destroying the small church, homes and crops. 

“After a tour through the charred remains of the village, Archbishop Matthew led us in prayer at the freshly dug mass grave for the victims of the attack.” 

Kaduna State is currently a hotspot of bandit attacks – often carried out in conjunction with the terror group Boko Haram. 

Dr Hull added: “Over the years on my travels for ACN, I have witnessed many distressing scenes – of poverty, of oppression and of violence. Everywhere I've been, though, I have met smiling, happy children whose natural curiosity and playfulness shone through regardless of their situation. 

“Everywhere, that is, except in Adama Dutse. There were no smiles on the faces of the children I met in that burned out village – and that is something I shall never forget. 

“Please pray for all those living in fear in Nigeria’s Middle Belt.”