Nigeria (International Christian Concern) — Years after she lived through unspeakable violence, Ruth’s smile emerges free from trauma. 

Five years ago, “Baby Ruth” became a living symbol of hope amid Nigeria’s long, bloody war against its Christian population. Today, her story of survival, faith, and the resilient love of family is inspiring other Nigerian Christians who’ve lived through barbaric attacks. 

Ruth was born in 2021, the same year her home village, Maiyanga, Northwest of Jos, Plateau state, came under fire by heavily armed Islamic Fulani militants.

In the early hours of that tragic morning, gunfire echoed across the hills as villagers fled for their lives. Her mother, Hannatu, was among them — clutching 2-month-old Ruth in her trembling arms as she ran through the darkness. Trapped near a swollen river, she begged the attackers to spare her baby’s life. They tore Ruth from her grasp, killed Hannatu on the spot, and left the crying infant in the mud. Moments later, Ruth’s family and several relatives were also gunned down. Only Ruth and her grandmother survived that night. 

From the ashes of that terror, God’s grace shone through. Ruth was rescued by survivors who found her at dawn, cold and covered in mud, but miraculously alive. She was taken in by Danjuma John, a local builder, and his wife, Talatu Danjuma, Hannatu’s sister. The Danjumas, who already had children of their own, opened their home and hearts to Ruth, treating her as one of their own. 

“We know the importance of children,” Talatu said softly. “That’s why we adopted her to stay with us. We thank God for providing for us to take good care of them. It hasn’t been easy, but we believe God will continue to guide us.” 

For the Danjuma family, faith is what sustains them during life’s storms. They have faced their own share of tragedy. In June 2024, Talatu lost her brother in another attack on their village. “Fulani militias killed five members of our family,” she recalled tearfully. “Only Ruth and our grandmother survived. Now, it’s just our grandparents who remain in the village. We’ve faced so many attacks, but we keep our faith in God because everything that has a beginning will surely have an end.” 

Their home in Jos now offers Ruth safety and love, but memories of loss still linger. Danjuma said persecution has shaped their faith.  

“It has made us stronger,” he said. “It has drawn us closer to God. We pray not for revenge but for forgiveness — for the attackers to find Christ. Only God can change the heart of a man.” 

Despite the hardship, there is joy in watching Ruth grow. She is now attending ECWA Primary School in Jos, Kabong, where her teacher, Regina Adu, describes her as a gentle, curious child. 

“Ruth is calm and kind,” Adu said. “She has a bit of difficulty with her studies, probably because of what she’s been through, but I believe she’ll improve. She’s learning to write neatly, and we’re working on her English. She’s a good girl with a bright future.” 

Ruth’s caregivers say she loves to sing in Sunday school, especially hymns about God’s love. The Danjumas have been helping Ruth understand forgiveness and hope in Christ, even though she’s still too young to grasp the full meaning of her loss.  

“She may not remember what happened,” Talatu said, “but we make sure she grows up knowing that God loves her deeply.” 

The community around Jos continues to live under threat. The Middle Belt region — stretching across Plateau, Benue, and Kaduna states — has been a hotspot of religiously motivated violence for years. According to local monitors, hundreds of Christian villages have been attacked by Fulani extremists, leaving tens of thousands displaced. Entire communities are wiped out overnight, churches reduced to rubble, and children orphaned. 

Gata Moses, a community advocate who works closely with families like the Danjumas, explained that Ruth’s story is not unique.  

“This is the reality for many Christian children in Nigeria,” he said. “They’ve seen their parents murdered and their homes destroyed. The violence is systematic — it’s a form of genocide. Yet the government remains silent. We are crying for the world to see our pain and help us.” 

For Ruth’s adoptive parents, their greatest prayer is for peace — and for the chance to educate the next generation.  

“We plead for help with Ruth’s schooling,” Talatu said. “We want her to learn and become someone who can help others one day. We couldn’t complete our own education due to hardship. But we believe Ruth can go further if given the opportunity.” 

Their faith remains unshaken despite the uncertainty. They continue to gather for prayer every evening, thanking God for his provision and asking for strength to endure.  

“We’ve lost so much,” Danjuma said, “but we also know that Christ is with us. Persecution reminds us that this world is not our home. It teaches us to depend completely on God.” 

Ruth’s recovery has also been a journey of healing for her extended family. Her grandmother, who narrowly escaped death, often visits and tells her stories about her late mother.  

“She calls me ‘Mama’ and hugs me every time I come,” the old woman said. “When I see her smile, I know that God still has a purpose for us.” 

Today, Ruth is 5 years old. She still bears the physical marks of hardship — her leg was once affected by malnutrition, but with proper medical care, she’s growing stronger. Through the help of generous Christians and humanitarian partners, the Danjumas have received food, clothing, and medical support from International Christian Concern (ICC) to keep Ruth healthy and in school. Yet, like many families in the Middle Belt, they still live with the fear of renewed violence. 

“Sometimes we hear gunshots from nearby villages,” Talatu said. “It reminds us of those dark days. But we trust God for protection. He has brought us this far, and he won’t abandon us now.” 

As the Danjuma family continues their journey of faith and rebuilding, their message to the world is simple: pray for Nigeria’s persecuted Christians. Pray for peace in Plateau state. Pray for children like Ruth — orphans of violence who long for a chance to grow in love and faith. And pray for the attackers, that their hearts would be transformed by God’s grace. 

“We say thank you,” Talatu concluded, her eyes filled with both sorrow and hope. “May God change the hearts of those doing this, so we can enjoy peace again. We believe that one day, all tears will be wiped away.” 

To read more news stories, visit the ICC Newsroom. For interviews, please email press@persecution.org. To support ICC’s work around the world, please give to our Where Most Needed Fund.