By Palang Paul
Prominent Christian leader in Plateau State has issued an urgent appeal to the United States President, Donald Trump, to intervene in what he described as a sustained campaign of violence targeting Christian communities in Nigeria’s Middle Belt.
The Regional Chairman of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo, made the appeal on Thursday during the mass burial of 22 victims killed including a Reverend in a deadly attack on Kawel community in Mushere Chiefdom, Bokkos Local Government Area.
Speaking before grieving families, community leaders and mourners, the cleric said the latest killings were part of what he believes is a systematic effort to eliminate Christian populations from parts of Plateau State.
“There is genocide of Christians in Nigeria, and that is the plain truth,” Dachomo declared. “That is why I continue to call on President Donald Trump to intervene. Any further delay will expose more Christians to attacks and possible extermination.”
The emotional burial ceremony followed the June 21 attack on Kawel village, where Fulani terrorists killed 22 residents, including respected community members and church leaders.
In a statement shared on his X account, Dachomo urged the international community to pay closer attention to the security situation in Plateau and other parts of Northern Nigeria, arguing that many rural Christian communities remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.
“Today, I raise my voice for countless Christians who have lost loved ones, homes and entire communities to violence,” he said. “Whether one agrees with the term genocide or not, the suffering of these communities is real and cannot be ignored.”
The cleric stressed that his call was not for revenge but for justice, protection and accountability.
“The world must know what is happening. The international community cannot continue to remain silent in the face of human suffering. Every life matters, and every victim deserves justice and protection,” he added.
Describing the burial as one of the most painful moments of his ministry, Dachomo recounted standing before 22 dead bodies and witnessing families devastated by loss.
“I saw widows whose husbands would never return home, children whose parents would never hold them again, and parents burying the children they had raised with hope and sacrifice,” he said.
“These were not statistics. They were fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, brothers and sisters whose lives were cut short by violence.”
The cleric questioned how many more lives must be lost before authorities provide lasting security for affected communities.
“How many more innocent Christians must be buried before the world hears our cries?” he asked. “How many more communities must endure this pain before meaningful protection is provided?”
Despite the grief, Dachomo urged survivors not to lose hope, saying faith remained the community’s source of strength.
“We hold on to God’s promise that He is close to the brokenhearted,” he said. “Today, I pray that God comforts every grieving family and grants them strength in this difficult hour.”
The attack on Kawel is the latest in a series of deadly incidents that have renewed concerns about insecurity in Plateau State, where communities continue to demand greater protection from government authorities and security agencies.
Post Comment