Reverend Ezekiel Danchomo to Sue Sheikh Gumi Over “Empty Cask£t” Allegations
Reverend Ezekiel Danchomo to Sue Sheikh Gumi Over “Empty Casket” Allegations
The tense debate surrounding violence in Nigeria’s Middle Belt has taken a dramatic legal turn as Reverend Ezekiel Danchomo, a prominent Plateau State cleric, announced plans to sue Sheikh Ahmad Gumi. This comes after Gumi publicly alleged that Christian communities were burying empty caskets to fabricate claims of genocide and attract international sympathy.
The lawsuit, according to Danchomo, aims to hold Gumi accountable for what he describes as dangerous, defamatory, and deeply hurtful lies that undermine the dignity of victims and the grief of bereaved families.
Gumi triggered outrage when he claimed that Christian groups were staging funerals with empty coffins to deceive the world into believing that Christians in the Middle Belt were being systematically exterminated. He insisted he was quoting unnamed medical sources, but the reaction was swift and fierce. Many accused him of trivializing real suffering and attempting to whitewash years of documented attacks in communities across Plateau, Benue, and southern Kaduna.
In his reaction, Rev. Danchomo described Gumi’s allegations as wicked, reckless, and an abomination against the memory of the dead. According to him, the victims of attacks in Plateau are real people with names, families, and burial grounds—not props for propaganda. He stated that he is already consulting legal experts to initiate defamation proceedings against Gumi, stressing that such falsehood cannot go unchallenged. He added that families of victims had expressed readiness to join the suit, highlighting how deeply the comments hurt a community already struggling with trauma.
One of the most striking aspects of Danchomo’s response is his willingness to allow independent investigators and journalists to visit mass burial sites. He specifically mentioned the graves in Bindi-Jebbu, Riyom LGA, where dozens of victims were recently buried. He emphasized that every coffin lowered into the ground contained a real body, and declared that the communities were ready to open the graves if necessary to expose Gumi’s claims as false.
The backlash to Gumi’s remarks extended far beyond Plateau. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) condemned the statement as a cruel lie and an insult to people who have buried their loved ones after years of relentless attacks. The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) described Gumi’s allegations as irresponsible, insensitive, and morally reprehensible, warning that such statements further inflame religious tension and undermine peace efforts. Both groups expressed their support for any legal steps taken by Danchomo and urged the government to intervene in the spread of misinformation that destabilizes communities.
Observers note that this controversy is significant for multiple reasons.
Accusing communities of burying empty caskets amounts to denying the existence of their dead, a deeply painful assault on survivors’ dignity. It also represents a dangerous form of misinformation at a time when Nigeria is struggling with deepening insecurity and widespread mistrust between religious groups. Beyond the national implications, Gumi’s comments and the legal response could influence how the international community interprets claims of genocide against Christians in Nigeria—a topic that has already attracted global concern.
If Danchomo proceeds with the lawsuit, it could become one of the most consequential legal battles between religious leaders in recent Nigerian history. The outcome may shape how religious figures use their public platforms and how communities confront false narratives in times of crisis. To some, Danchomo’s decision represents a moral stand for truth and accountability. To others, it signals the beginning of deeper debates about how Nigeria confronts its cycle of violence, trauma, and competing narratives.
What is clear is that the controversy has struck a national nerve, and the ripple effects will likely continue as the case unfolds.
