The United States has condemned the killing of members of the family of Plateau-based cleric, Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo, calling for those responsible for the attack to be brought to justice and urging the Nigerian government to strengthen security in vulnerable communities.
In a statement posted on X on Thursday, the US Department of State’s Bureau of African Affairs described the attack as horrific and expressed sympathy to the bereaved family, while voicing concern over the persistent violence affecting communities in Nigeria’s Middle Belt.
“The United States strongly condemns the horrific killing of members of Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo’s family in Plateau State, Nigeria. The continued violence targeting Christian communities and other vulnerable populations in Nigeria’s Middle Belt is deeply alarming,” the bureau said.
The US noted that it had recently engaged Nigerian authorities on the country’s security challenges, stressing that more decisive action was needed to prevent similar attacks and ensure perpetrators are held accountable.
“As I discussed last week with Nigerian officials, we must do more to prevent violent acts like those yesterday. The perpetrators must be held accountable, and urgent action is needed to strengthen security and protect Christians and other vulnerable communities,” the statement added.
Washington also reaffirmed its commitment to working with Nigeria in tackling terrorism and violent extremism, saying all Nigerians should be free to practise their faith without fear of violence or intimidation.
The statement followed the July 12 attack on Kum community in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State, where nine members of Rev. Dachomo’s extended family, including a two-month-old baby, were killed.
According to the cleric, the attackers, believed to be armed Fulani militias, asked for him by name before opening fire on 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 condemnation of the violence in Plateau State.
He disclosed that his grandmother and an uncle were killed in previous attacks and revealed that he received a written death threat days after burying his relatives, warning that he would be the next target.
Plateau State has witnessed recurring violence linked to farmer-herder conflicts, communal tensions and attacks by armed groups, with thousands of people killed and many others displaced over the years despite repeated security interventions.
(The Sun)