Regional Chairman of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) Plateau State, Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo, has criticized bith state and federal government authorities over the persistent insecurity in Plateau State, urging residents to embrace lawful self-defence in the face of recurring attacks.
The cleric made the remarks while addressing worshippers and community members following recent violent attacks in parts of Plateau State, where dozens of people have been killed and several communities displaced.
According to Rev. Dachomo, the continued loss of lives has heightened fear among residents, particularly those living in rural communities, despite repeated assurances from government and security agencies.
He expressed concern over what he described as the inability of authorities to provide adequate protection for vulnerable communities, stressing that citizens should not remain helpless when confronted with life-threatening situations.
«”People have the right to defend themselves when their lives are under attack,” the cleric said, while calling on the government to strengthen security operations and ensure perpetrators of violent attacks are brought to justice.»
Rev. Dachomo maintained that self-defence should not be interpreted as an endorsement of lawlessness or vigilantism but as a legitimate means of protecting lives where security response is inadequate.
He renewed his call on both the Federal and Plateau State governments to intensify efforts toward ending the recurring violence and restoring lasting peace across affected communities.
The cleric further alleged that, in his view, Christian communities in parts of Nigeria are facing a coordinated campaign of violence, which he described as a “Christian genocide.” He claimed that, despite what he believes is widespread public awareness of the killings, the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has consistently rejected such characterizations.
Rev. Dachomo argued that the government’s position does not reflect the experiences of many affected communities and urged authorities to acknowledge the scale of the security challenges and adopt stronger measures to protect vulnerable populations.
He also alleged that United States military personnel were compelled to leave Nigeria after purportedly discovering that members of the Boko Haram insurgent group had infiltrated the Nigerian Armed Forces.
Rev. Dachomo did not provide evidence to support the allegation during his remarks. As of the time of filing this report, neither the Federal Government, the Nigerian Armed Forces, nor the United States Government had publicly confirmed the claim.
Speaking further, the cleric addressed the recent controversy involving the Director-General of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Professor Ayo Omotayo, who apologized after remarks linking the Berom ethnic group to an attack on the institute drew criticism.
According to Rev. Dachomo, following Professor Omotayo’s public apology, the Christian community and the Berom community have accepted the apology and chosen the path of forgiveness.
He urged all parties to prioritize reconciliation and peaceful coexistence, emphasizing that unity and mutual respect remain essential to addressing Plateau State’s longstanding security and communal challenges.
Rev. Dachomo also called on government authorities, traditional institutions, religious leaders, and community stakeholders to work together in restoring lasting peace and preventing further violence across the state.
