They K!lled Nine Of My Relatives, Now They Say I’m Next,’ Plateau Cleric Dachomo Alleges D£ath Thr£ats From Herdsmen

‘They Killed Nine Of My Relatives, Now They Say I’m Next,’ Plateau Cleric Dachomo Alleges Death Threats From Herdsmen

Despite the alleged threats, the cleric said he was not afraid because he believed his life was in God’s hands.

The Regional Chairman of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, Reverend Ezekiel Dachomo, has alleged that he received death threats from suspected Fulani herdsmen, who, according to him, vowed to kill him after previously killing nine of his relatives.

In a statement posted on his X account on Friday and addressed “To the World,” Dachomo said the threats were contained in letters written in both Hausa and English, adding that copies had already been submitted to security operatives.

“A few days ago, Fulani herdsmen sent a threatening letter to me and to members of my church,” he said.

“The letter was written in both Hausa and English and its message was terrifying. They vowed to attack me and kill me soon just as they killed nine of my relatives.”

He added, “Copies of these threatening letters have already been handed over to the security operatives.”

Ezekiel

Despite the alleged threats, the cleric said he was not afraid because he believed his life was in God’s hands.

“Many people have asked me if I am afraid. My answer is no. I am not afraid because my life is in the hands of Almighty God,” he said, quoting Psalm 118:6: “The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do unto me?”

Dachomo said he had personally experienced the pain of losing loved ones and ministering to victims of violence.

“I know what it means to bury those I love. I know what it means to wipe the tears of children who watched their parents murdered. I know what it means to stand before grieving families whose only crime was refusing to deny Jesus Christ,” he said.

“Now they say I will be next. But I ask the world: What is my crime?”

The cleric said his advocacy for victims of violence and persecuted Christians may have made him a target.

“Is my crime that I speak for widows who have no voice? Is my crime that I cry for orphaned children whose parents were murdered? Is my crime that I tell the stories of persecuted Christians in Nigeria so the world will not forget them? Is my crime that I preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and refuse to remain silent while innocent people are killed?”

“If that is my crime, then I will continue until my last breath,” he declared.

Quoting John 15:20, Dachomo said Christians should expect persecution.

“I did not choose this path because it is safe. I chose it because truth must never bow before terror. They may threaten my life, but they cannot silence the truth. They may kill the messenger, but they cannot kill the message.”

The cleric appealed to the international community not to ignore what he described as the plight of persecuted Christians in Nigeria.

“Today I ask the world not to look away. Remember the widows. Remember the orphans. Remember the innocent Christians who continue to suffer simply because of their faith,” he said.

“Stand with us in prayer. Stand with us in truth. Stand with us in demanding justice for every innocent life.”

He added: “And if one day my voice is silenced, let the world remember that I never carried a weapon. My only weapon was the truth. My only mission was to defend the persecuted. My only desire was to let the world know that the blood of innocent people cries out before God.”

Concluding his statement, Dachomo cited 2 Timothy 4:7, saying: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

He prayed that God would strengthen persecuted believers, comfort grieving families and grant justice and peace to communities affected by violence.

In March, SaharaReporters reported that Dachomo accused the Nigerian government and some influential elites of being complicit in the country’s insecurity, alleging that they sponsor criminal activities and facilitate the integration of “repentant” terrorists into Nigeria’s security agencies.

The cleric, who has been outspoken about what he describes as the persecution and killings of Christians in Nigeria, made the allegations during an interview with News Central.

He also accused the government of turning a blind eye to widespread violence while benefiting from what he described as systemic corruption.