The US has condemned the killings of Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo’s family members in the Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The State Department’s Africa Bureau denounced the attack as horrible and urged the culprits to be brought accountable.
The US Bureau of African Affairs issued a statement on Thursday, expressing sympathy to the victims’ families and urging Nigerian authorities to take stronger measures to prevent such assaults and hold those involved accountable.
“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 statement read.
The agency expressed its sympathies to the victims’ families and all those affected, and said it had already spoken with Nigerian officials about the situation.
It emphasized the importance of taking immediate action to prevent similar assaults from occurring again.
“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.
The agency stated that Washington remains committed to collaborating with the Nigerian government to combat terrorism and violent extremism in the country.
It further stated that Christians and other Nigerians should be entitled to practice their beliefs without intimidation.
On July 12, nine members of Dachomo’s extended family were massacred, including a two-month-old baby, during a nocturnal raid on the Kum village in the Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.
Before opening fire on the pastor’s relatives, the gunmen, who were tied to Fulani groups, asked for his name.
Dachomo, the Regional Chairman of the Church of Christ in Nations for Plateau State’s Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, stated that this was not the first time his family had been attacked for their activity against what he described as a genocide in the state.
He stated that his grandmother and uncle had both been killed by fanatics in prior attacks.
Dachomo, the Regional Chairman of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) for the Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, stated that this was not the first time his family had been attacked for their activity against what he described as a genocide in the state.
He stated that his grandmother and uncle had both been killed by fanatics in prior attacks.
Days after burying his kin, Dachomo revealed that the same terrorists had delivered him a written threat, indicating that he would be next.
He claimed the herders swore to kill him, just as they had killed nine of his family.
