The Regional Chairman of the Church of Christ in Nations in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo, has renewed his appeal to the President of the United States, Donald Trump, to intervene in what he described as a calculated campaign of genocide against Christians in Plateau State.
Naijaonpoint reports that Dachomo made the appeal on Thursday during the mass burial of 22 persons killed in an attack on Kawel village in Mushere Chiefdom of Bokkos Local Government Area, insisting that the repeated attacks on Christian communities were neither accidental nor isolated incidents.
The cleric, who also reiterated his position in a post shared on his 𝕏 handle, warned that any delay in international intervention could leave rural Christian communities more vulnerable to sustained attacks.
Delivering an emotional sermon at the burial ceremony, Dachomo maintained that the killings reflected a broader pattern of violence against Christians.
“There is genocide of Christians in Nigeria, and that is the plain truth. That is why I keep calling on President Trump to intervene. Any further delay will see Christians completely wiped out from Plateau State,” he said.
He stressed that the suffering of Christian communities across the country deserved global attention, irrespective of differing opinions on the terminology used to describe the violence.
“Today, I raise my voice for countless Christians in Nigeria who have lost loved ones, homes, and communities to violence. Whether one agrees with the term genocide or not, the suffering of many Christian communities is real and cannot be ignored.
“The world must know what is happening, and the international community cannot continue to remain silent in the face of human suffering. Every life matters, and every victim deserves justice, protection, and a voice.”
The cleric insisted that his appeal was not a call for retaliation but for justice and adequate protection for vulnerable communities.
“At the same time, we affirm a fundamental principle recognised around the world: every human being has the right to life and the right to lawful self-defence when faced with imminent harm.
“We call not for hatred or revenge, but for justice, security, accountability and lasting peace. Silence helps no one. The time to act, to speak, and to protect innocent lives is now,” he added.
Speaking about the mass burial, Dachomo described the experience as one of the darkest moments of his pastoral ministry.
“Today was one of the most painful days of my ministry. With tears in my eyes and a heavy heart, I stood before 22 coffins as I conducted the mass burial of our brothers and sisters in Christ who were brutally killed on the night of June 21 in Kawel, Mushere, Bokkos LGA of Plateau State,” he said.
The cleric recounted the anguish of grieving families, saying the sight of widows, orphaned children and bereaved parents left him devastated.
“As I looked upon the grieving families, I saw widows whose husbands would never return home, children whose parents would never hold them again, and parents burying the children they had prayed and sacrificed so much for. The cries of sorrow pierced my soul. No words seemed enough to comfort such unimaginable pain.”
He added that the victims were more than statistics.
“These 22 precious souls were not numbers. They were fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters and faithful followers of Jesus Christ. They went to sleep hoping for tomorrow, but violence stole their lives and left their families brokenhearted,” the Plateau cleric noted.
Dachomo questioned how much longer communities would continue to endure deadly attacks before decisive action is taken.
“As we lowered their bodies into the ground, I could not help but ask: How many more innocent Christians must be buried before the world hears our cries? How many more tears must be shed before peace returns to our communities?”
Addressing government authorities, he asked: “Do these lives matter? Do these grieving families matter? How many more communities must endure such pain before lasting protection is provided?”
Despite the grief, the cleric said the bereaved families remained steadfast in their faith.
“Yet even in our sorrow, we hold on to God’s promise: The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
“Today, I pray that God will draw near to every grieving family and give them strength beyond human understanding. As the graves were covered with earth, one question echoed in my heart: How many more innocent lives must be lost before peace comes to our land?” Dachomo said.
