Catechist Murdered in Burkina Faso Showed “remarkable dedication” in Over 20 Years of Church Service: Catholic Priest

“This alarming news was circulating in the village of Saatenga, and Catechist Edouard had still not returned. Worried, his daughters-in-law went looking for him around midday, but all they found was his bicycle, which they brought back that evening,” The Catholic Priest narrated.

He recalled the confirmation of the worst fears of the Catechist Edouard’s family members, saying, “Thinking he might have fled and taken refuge somewhere, they set out again on Friday (April 19) morning to find him, only to discover his lifeless body at around 6 a.m.”

This was in Pouargogê, some four kilometers from Zigni and seven kilometers from Saatenga, the Priest told ACI Africa, adding that Catechist Edouard’s “throat had been slit, his hands tied behind his back and he was lying on his back.”

“Signs of violence were visible, with a fractured arm, suggesting that he had been maltreated before being killed,” he further recounted, adding that the Catechist had to be buried close to where his body was discovered for lack of means to transport the body amid high temperatures.

According to the Burkinabe Catholic Priest, previous disagreement over land ownership might have made Catechist Edouard a target of his adversaries, who he said were “Peulhs”, popularly known as the Fulani. 

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Those behind the kidnapping and murder of Catechist Edouard “were Peulhs (the Fulani), he told ACI Africa, adding, “It seems that during his stay in Zigni, Catechist Yougbare had had disagreements with Peulhs (the Fulani) over the ownership of the land he was farming on.”

The Catholic Church leader went on to eulogize the late Catechist as one whose service to the Church “was marked by remarkable dedication.”

“His 23-year-commitment as a Catechist in Zigni testifies to his devotion to his community,” he emphasized during the April 23 interview. 

Born in 1964 in Kouriogê, Catechist Edouard was married to Eulalie Delma. The father of eight children, including six boys and two girls had lost three of his children, two boys and a girl.

He served as a Catechist in Lantaogo in the Eastern region of Burkina Faso for six years, and returned to his hometown, Gondinpiighin in 1993, after he encountered challenges in his apostolate. 

In 1997, Catechist Edouard joined Zigni, a community of farmers. As Zigni's population grew, a Small Christian Community (SCC) was formed around the year 2000, and Catechist Edouard became its leader. 

Due to growing insecurity in the region, he moved to Gondinpiighin in 2023, where he lived until his lifeless body was discovered on April 19. 

In a statement shared with ACI Africa April 19, the Catholic Pontifical and charity foundation, Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), eulogized Catechist Edouard as a faithful servant.

“We are heartbroken by the loss of Yougbare. He served his community faithfully and his death is a devastating blow for the people of Saatenga,” officials of ACN International say in the statement by María Lozano, the entity’s press and public relations director.

They note that “Catechists in Burkina Faso are on the front lines, risking their lives for the good of their people. Just two months ago, another catechist was murdered in the Diocese of Dori while leading a Sunday celebration in a chapel.”

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In the statement, ACN international appeals for prayers for the families of the victims and the people of Saatenga, hit hard by the attacks on their lives and livelihoods. 

Jude Atemanke is a Cameroonian journalist with a passion for Catholic Church communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Buea in Cameroon. Currently, Jude serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.