Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo, a prominent pastor in Plateau State’s Barkin Ladi region, has received repeated death threats after publicly documenting mass killings of Christians and directly appealing to US President Donald Trump for intervention.
Dachomo, regional chairman of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN), presides over frequent mass burials in areas ravaged by attacks attributed to Fulani militants.
He claims to have officiated more than 70 such ceremonies in 2025 alone, including nights where hundreds of victims were interred.
In viral videos, Dachomo displays rows of coffins and accuses attackers of targeting Christian communities while converting homes into camps and seizing land.
He counters Nigerian government statements framing the violence as mere farmer-herder clashes, insisting patterns reveal religious motivation—attackers often spare Muslims in mixed villages and destroy churches.
Advocacy groups like International Christian Concern (ICC) and Intersociety report over 7,000 Christians killed nationwide in the first 220 days of 2025, with Plateau and Benue states hardest hit.
Thousands more face displacement, living in overcrowded IDP camps vulnerable to further raids.
Meanwhile, Dachomo’s outspokenness draws backlash.
He reports threats from figures allegedly linked to high officials, prompting military pledges of protection.
Undeterred, he urges international action, including potential ICC probes.
His pleas reach the White House.
President Trump redesignates Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern for religious freedom violations in November 2025, warning of aid cuts and possible military steps if attacks persist.
US Congressman Riley Moore, after visiting affected areas, describes “genocidal” campaigns and briefs Trump on paths forward.
Nigerian authorities condemn violence but deny religious genocide, attributing it to resource conflicts and criminality.
Critics, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, highlight impunity and disproportionate impact on Christian farmers.
As Christmas nears, fears mount. Reports circulate of planned holiday assaults, echoing deadly 2023-2024 raids claiming hundreds in Plateau.
Survivors demand accountability. Dachomo vows silence only in death, declaring his life dedicated to exposing truth.
The crisis tests Nigeria’s unity and draws global scrutiny, with calls mounting for urgent protection, investigations, and aid to avert further catastrophe.
