MOTHER USES B0DY TO SHIELD CHILDREN, SURV!VES ATT∆CK THAT CL∆IMS THREE L!VES

MOTHER USES BODY TO SHIELD CHILDREN, SURVIVES ATTACK THAT CLAIMS THREE LIVES

MANGU, PLATEAU STATE — A 35-year-old mother, Kyerna Jonathan, has displayed extraordinary courage in Bin Mper village, Kombun District of Mangu Local Government Area, surviving a brutal assault by shielding two of her children with her body.

The incident, which occurred on Monday, August 17, 2026, was brought to public attention by Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo, a senior cleric with the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN), who shared the harrowing account on his X account.

According to the report, armed assailants stormed the community and forced their way into Kyerna’s home by shooting at the door locks. Her husband, Jonathan Ishaku, who was keeping watch outside, had no time to evacuate the family and sought refuge in a nearby cornfield as the attackers approached.

Inside the bedroom, where Kyerna was sleeping with her five children, the gunmen opened fire. With seconds to react, Kyerna threw herself over her two youngest children, using her own body as a human shield. She sustained multiple gunshot wounds to the back before the attackers fled, believing she was dead.

While the two children she shielded emerged completely unharmed, tragic losses were recorded. Kyerna was unable to reach her three other children in the chaos, all of whom lost their lives during the attack.

Rescuers later transported the severely injured mother to a hospital, where she is currently receiving medical treatment and recovering from her wounds. The three deceased children were among 25 victims buried in the community the following morning.