Outspoken Plateau State cleric, Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo, has vowed to drag the Nigerian government to the International Criminal Court (ICC) over the alleged killing of Christians in the state and other northern parts of the country.
Rev. Dachomo who is the regional chairman of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) in Barkin Ladi local government area of the state, made the threat in a message he posted on his social media platform where he disclosed that he had already compiled a comprehensive list of the number of Christians murdered by Islamic extremists and Fulani bandits as well as churches destroyed since 2010 and would present them to the ICC and the United States government to take action.
The cleric also accused the Nigerian government and the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) of being silent and ignoring the mass killing of Christians in the Middle Belt especially in Plateau, noting that the denial by the government and CAN had worsened the situation and emboldened the attackers.
To achieve the aim of dragging the Nigerian government to the international court, Rev. Dachomo confirmed that some concerned Nigerians and international donor agencies have begun donating money to the cause, as well as to help family members of victims of various attacks and to support him in his ongoing humanitarian efforts.
The clergy particularly drew attention to a recent mass burial of 17 victims of an attack in Heipang district of Plateau State which he said bore the trademark of a Christian genocide despite attempts by the Nigerian government and the presidency’s constant denial of the targeted and systematic killings.
Rev. Dachomo wondered if several Christians were killed in just one attack, as well as other such killings in several affected communities in Plateau, Benue, and other northern states, then the government is playing the ostrich by denying that Christians are being killed by the extremists.
He added that part of his documents, which will be sent to the ICC, will include testimonies from victims, survivors, mass burials, and graves of victims across the Middle Belt region.
“The world needs to know that what we are saying is not false. I will go to any length to prove that this government is lying. We are also planning to take Nigeria before the International Criminal Court and sue the Miyetti Allah association for their role in these atrocities,” the cleric declared.
“Hundreds of lives have been lost in attacks on Plateau villages that were never documented, and many victims remain unaccounted for.
“On March 7th, 2010, Dogo Nahawa, a Christian-dominated community in Jos South local government area of Plateau State, was attacked by Muslim-Hausa Fulani, where over 500 people were killed in one night. Due to my outcry, my own village has been attacked several times and over 50 people have been slaughtered, including my family members and friends. My best friend’s wife and five children were burned alive.
“Since the Federal Government claimed there was no genocide, that statement has pushed me to intensify this work. CAN is also denying the genocide, so I’m determined to prove them wrong.
“Right now, I’m travelling around to document cases of Christian genocide because many of the affected villages were never recorded, even though there are graves. I have been moving from one grave site to another.
“In Jaruwa, worshippers were burnt alive during a church service. None survived because the terrorists surrounded the building, set it on fire with gas lamps, and trapped everyone inside.
“I intend to cover all areas where Christians have been attacked.
I’m going to Wurekum, Doruwa, Mangu, and Bokkos, all the places where Christian genocide has been reported. I’ll compile all these incidents into a report and present it to the world to show that genocide is happening in Nigeria,” he said.
