The US condemns the killing of family members of an outspoken Plateau pastor

The United States condemned the killing of several family members of an outspoken Plateau cleric, Pastor Ezekiel Dachomo, and called on Nigerian authorities to arrest the perpetrators of the evil act.

The US Department of State’s Bureau of African Affairs in a statement in X on Thursday, described the attack as horrific, and called for stronger action to prevent further attacks on vulnerable communities across Nigeria’s Middle Belt.

“The United States strongly condemns the horrific murder of Pastor Ezekiel Dachomo’s family members in Plateau State, Nigeria. The ongoing violence targeting Christian communities and other vulnerable populations in Nigeria’s Middle Belt is deeply concerning,” the bureau said.

The US said it had engaged Nigerian officials on the deteriorating security situation, and stressed that immediate action was needed to stop repeated attacks and hold perpetrators accountable.

“As I discussed last week with Nigerian officials, we must do more to prevent acts of violence like those that occurred yesterday. The perpetrators must be held accountable, and immediate action is needed to strengthen security and protect Christians and other vulnerable communities,” the statement added.

The bureau reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to working with the Nigerian government in combating terrorism and violent extremism, and stressed that Christians and other Nigerians must be able to practice their faith without fear of violence.

The statement followed the July 12 attack on the Kum community in Riyom Local Government Area of ​​Plateau State, in which nine members of Pastor Dachomo’s extended family, including a two-month-old baby, were killed.

According to the cleric, the attackers, believed to be armed Fulani militiamen, asked his name before shooting at his relatives.

Dachomo, who serves as Regional Chairman of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, said his family had been repeatedly targeted because of his outspoken criticism of violence in Plateau State.

He recalled that his grandmother and uncle were also killed in the previous attack, and added that a few days after burying his relatives, he received written death threats from the same group, warning that he would be their next target.