By Mike Odeh James and Olikita Ekani
Egwule, Kaduna–Eleven widows in Agatu County, Central Nigeria, are struggling to piece their lives back together after Fulani terrorists butchered their husbands, torched villages, and drove survivors from ancestral lands in a campaign of blood and fire.
In August 30, 2024, TruthNigeria correspondents uncovered the horror of massacres across Agatu, where once-thriving communities were reduced to ash. Churches and huts lay in ruins. Families were shattered. Entire villages became graveyards.
At the heart of this devastation are eleven women, widowed in one night of violence, now carrying grief like a second skin:
Ajima Joseph, 47
Maria Joseph, 51
Naomi Jonah, 42
Eleojo Hassan, 44
Elameyi Benjamin, 48
Awa Benjamin, 41
Ojonegecha Seini, 31
Ojonekeche Jonah, 36
Dorcas Mohammed, 39
Abibetu Ochowechi, 49
Olekwu Alade, 46
These are not just names on a page. Each represents a story of love cut short by machetes and bullets, of mothers watching their homes burn, of women fleeing with nothing but the clothes on their backs.
A Lifeline Across the Ocean
When TruthNigeria first reported their plight, hope seemed distant. But thousands of miles away, one man—a Christian filmmaker and humanitarian, Judd Saul—answered their silent cry.
Saul, founder of Equipping the Persecuted (ETP), pledged that the victims would not be abandoned. True to his word, he sent relief directly into their hands. A total of ₦550,000 was distributed, with each widow receiving ₦50,000 to help them survive.
It was more than money—it was compassion in action. Proof that even in the ruins of Agatu, the widows were not forgotten.
Gratitude From Idoma Youths
The President of Idoma Youths Group, Mike Alidu Magaji, praised Saul’s support:
“We are eternally grateful to the Founder of Equipping the Persecuted for sending help all the way from the USA to our widows. This is not the first time Mr. ETP has reached out. When Otobi Akpa was attacked, the organization sent a medical team and relief. He also stood with us in Yelewata and Ayati. For this, we say thank you.”
“A Pillar to the People of Benue”
For displaced communities, Saul’s presence has been more than symbolic. Desmond Jeremiah, a chief nurse from Egwule Kaduna and a displaced indigene of Eguma, testified:
“ETP has been a pillar to the people of Benue. He has put smiles on faces long forgotten. For years, many here had nothing to eat. Children would fall sick, and we had nothing to treat them with. Too often, they died in our arms. ETP’s support brings life where there was despair.”
Widow Abibetu Ochowechi Weeps for Joy
For Abibetu Ochowechi, grief and gratitude collided when TruthNigeria met her in Agatu.
Ochowechi, a mother of four, lost both her husband and her 18-year-old son Emmanuel to terrorist attacks. Emmanuel was kidnapped while farming on August 16, 2025, and later found dead.
“I am sad, but also happy. Sad, because last year I lost my husband to the terrorists. And this year, they returned to Eguma and killed my son. Happy, because with the ₦50,000 that Mr. Judd Saul gave me, I can feed my remaining children for the next three months. My one plea is that he help grant scholarships for some of our children, so they can have a future beyond this pain.”
A Beacon in Darkness
The lawmaker representing Agatu Apaa Federal Constituency, Pastor Ojotu Ojema, also expressed his gratitude:
“I personally want to thank this organization called Equipping The Persecuted and Mr. Saul. They have helped halve the burden I carry. This good work started by the Christian missionary must be sustained.”
“This is a beacon of hope” Ojema added
For the people of Benue and Nigeria’s Middle Belt, Saul is no stranger. Time and again, when terror strikes, his hand reaches across the ocean.
When Otobi Akpa was ravaged by attacks, Saul sent medical teams and emergency aid.
After the carnage in Yelewata and Ayati, he mobilized relief workers to deliver food, medicine, and comfort to survivors.
In multiple communities, he has built trust by showing up when others look away.
What sets Saul apart is not just charity—it is consistency. While governments debate and neighbors sometimes abandon the wounded, Saul’s Equipping the Persecuted has become a lifeline.
Final Word
The massacres of Agatu remain one of Nigeria’s many forgotten tragedies. But thanks to Judd Saul, the widows of Agatu know they are not abandoned. His compassion stands as a beacon in darkness—a reminder that even in the valley of death, humanity can still shine.
