The United States State government has issued a stern condemnation following a deadly attack targeting the family of prominent Plateau State cleric Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo.
Describing the assault as a “heinous act,” American officials urged the Nigerian government to swiftly hold those responsible accountable and bolster security measures in the nation’s Middle Belt region.
The attack occurred at Rev. Dachomo’s extended family compound in the Riyom local government area of Plateau State. According to community reports and local leadership, armed assailants raided the home asking for the pastor by name before opening fire indiscriminately. Nine extended family members lost their lives in the violence, including a two-month-old infant.
The condemnation was contained in a statement issued on Thursday by the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of African Affairs and posted on its official X handle.
According to the statement, Washington expressed condolences to the family of the victims and other affected communities, while urging Nigerian authorities to ensure that those responsible are arrested and prosecuted.
“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 Bureau said the issue had already been discussed with Nigerian officials during meetings held in Abuja last week, stressing that urgent steps must be taken to strengthen security and prevent further bloodshed.
“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,” it added.
Rev. Dachomo, who is the Regional Chairman of the Church of Christ in Nations, COCIN, for Barkin Ladi LGA, is a vocal advocate against killings in Plateau and other parts of the Middle Belt. He had recently drawn international attention after documenting mass burials and accusing Fulani militia of carrying out systematic attacks on Christian farming communities.
A State Department spokesperson, in a separate briefing to Fox News Digital, said Washington had received reports of the killing of nine Christians in the latest Plateau attack, noting that there remains a “shocking level of violence against Christians in the Middle Belt committed by Fulani Ethnic Militia.”
The spokesperson added that Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Frank Garcia, who led a U.S. delegation to Nigeria from July 13-15, had stressed America’s grave concern over the violence and the need for concrete action.
The killing has triggered renewed outrage both locally and internationally, with rights groups and Plateau indigenes in the diaspora calling on the Federal Government to end the cycle of impunity and deploy decisive security measures to flashpoints in Bokkos, Barkin Ladi and Bassa LGAs.
The Plateau State Government and security agencies are yet to issue an official statement on arrests in connection with the latest incident as of press time.
