Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo: "This Is Not Farmer-Herder Clash It's Organized Ethnic Cleansing of Christians"

 Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo: "This Is Not Farmer-Herder Clash—It's Organized Ethnic Cleansing of Christians" In an impassioned press...

 Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo: "This Is Not Farmer-Herder Clash—It's Organized Ethnic Cleansing of Christians"

In an impassioned press conference held on December 31, 2025, Reverend Ezekiel Dachomo, a prominent leader in the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) and chairman of its Regional Church Council in Bokkos, Plateau State, accused Nigerian authorities of complicity in what he described as a "systematic genocide" targeting Christian communities across the country's northern and middle belt regions. Flanked by representatives from the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Plateau State Chapter and the Coalition of Indigenous Youth Bodies of Plateau State, Dachomo presented documents, victim lists, and graphic evidence to journalists, urging immediate international action to halt the violence.

Drawing from biblical references like John 8:32—"the truth will set you free"—Dachomo opened the event with a prayer for peace in Nigeria, emphasizing that "lies destroy the nation, but the truth always saves the nation." He positioned himself not just as a pastor but as a firsthand witness to the atrocities, recounting personal losses: "I have buried more than 70 victims in my lifetime. I have lost my blood relatives and even my best friends. I have cried with the bereaved... I have walked through burned villages and held services in burned churches."

The cleric detailed a pattern of attacks he claims are orchestrated to eradicate Christian presence from ancestral lands. "This is not a conflict between farmers and herders," he asserted. "It is a systematic, organized campaign to wipe out Christians... Our villages are being emptied, renamed, and occupied by those who kill us." He cited historical roots in the 19th-century jihad led by Usman dan Fodio, which he said failed to conquer certain areas but has been "resurrected with modern weapons." Armed groups like Boko Haram, ISWAP, Fulani militias, and bandits were accused of pushing an Islamic hegemony, using tactics of raiding, killing, displacing, and occupying land.

Dachomo highlighted specific incidents to underscore the urgency. He referenced the ongoing captivity of Leah Sharibu, abducted in 2018 for refusing to renounce her faith, and the infamous 2014 Chibok girls kidnapping. More recently, he pointed to the November 21, 2025, abduction of 303 children and 12 teachers from St. Mary's Catholic Primary and Secondary School in Papiri, Niger State, which led to widespread school closures in northern Nigeria. Authorities later reported that around 50 children escaped initially, with subsequent releases bringing the total freed to over 230 by late December, though some remained in captivity. He also mentioned a fresh attack where 12 Christians were killed at a mining site in Atoso village, Bokkos Local Government Area, in mid-December 2025, noting that such violence outpaces documentation efforts.

Statistics presented included over 1,336 Christians killed in Plateau State alone between December 2023 and December 2024, with thousands displaced and more than 3,000 homes and churches destroyed in targeted attacks. Annexures distributed at the conference contained graphic photos of victims, hospital scenes, and community records, which Dachomo described as "testaments of suffering under display."

Criticizing the Nigerian government, Dachomo alleged it has "failed, refused, or is handicapped to protect us," sharing its "monopoly of violence" with non-state actors. He cited the case of Sunday Jackson, a Christian convicted for self-defense in Adamawa State but later pardoned due to international pressure, as emblematic of systemic bias. He also lambasted the implementation of Sharia law in 12 northern states since 1999, drawing parallels to conflicts in Sudan and Pakistan.

Dachomo expressed frustration over the silence of prominent Muslim leaders and organizations, such as the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Jama'atu Nasril Islam (JNI), emirs, and sultans. "No Islamic leader has spoken against what is happening," he said, contrasting this with attacks on non-Fulani Muslims or moderate voices, like the murder of a former Ni'edy Allah chairman in Bokkos for opposing the violence.

The press conference called for Nigeria to uphold its obligations under the Genocide Convention and customary international law, inviting global intervention. "The world can no longer look away," Dachomo urged, specifically appealing to the United States in line with "our common humanity."

The event has amplified ongoing debates about religious violence in Nigeria. U.S. President Donald Trump has labeled the killings a "genocide," prompting threats of military involvement and congressional attention, including the Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025. Nigerian officials, including Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar, have rejected these claims, insisting the violence is complex, driven by factors like resource scarcity and banditry, affecting Muslims and Christians alike. The government has welcomed U.S. counterterrorism assistance but denies any targeted Christian genocide.

Muslim leaders like the Islamic Council rejected the allegations of a Christian genocide and emphasizing that extremists like Boko Haram target mosques and Muslim figures as well. 

Dachomo's message has resonated, with social  media users praising his courage and sharing videos of his appeals, some directly tagging Trump. One post noted, "God raised Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo to speak for Nigerian Christians," while others highlighted his personal sacrifices, including discrimination faced by his family.

Human rights organizations like Genocide Watch and International Christian Concern continue to document attacks, warning of escalating risks. As Plateau State grapples with sustained violence— including over 120 Christians killed in attacks earlier in 2025 Dachomo's plea underscores a humanitarian crisis demanding balanced scrutiny and action. 

Family Writers Press International.