SYSTEMIC COLLAPSE: Tears in Plateau as Firebrand Cleric Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo Buries Family; Tinubu’s Government Slammed Over Total Security Failure in Middle Belt

JOS, NIGERIA — In what has been described as the ultimate tragedy of a nation failing its citizens, the Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo—the outspoken regional chairman of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) in Barkin Ladi, Plateau State—is burying his own family members.

For years, the white-haired cleric has stood before the world, weeping at mass graves and demanding the protection of persecuted Christian farming communities in Nigeria’s Middle Belt. Now, the violence has breached his own home in a targeted assault designed to break his spirit.

The attack has ignited widespread fury across the country. It stands as a damning indictment of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration, whose lukewarm approach to the worsening security crisis continues to leave citizens entirely at the mercy of armed marauders.

WATCH VIDEO HERE

A Coordinated Hit to Silence a Global Voice

Reverend Dachomo is no ordinary clergyman. He became a global symbol of resistance after videos of him conducting mass burials for hundreds of victims went viral, eventually leading him to testify before international bodies and speak to global media outlets.

Because of his fearless refusal to be quiet, Dachomo has lived under a cloud of relentless death threats. Security analysts and local advocates believe this latest attack on his household was not a random act of banditry, but a highly coordinated, state-tolerated execution aimed at silencing his advocacy.

“This is the price of speaking truth in a country where the government protects the status quo more than its citizens,” said a local youth leader in Barkin Ladi, speaking on condition of anonymity. “They couldn’t stop his mouth, so they targeted his blood.”

The Great Betrayal: Tinubu’s Administration Under Fire

The tragedy has renewed fierce criticism of the Federal Government’s absolute failure to secure the Middle Belt. Despite numerous military operations—including Operation Safe Haven and Operation Enduring Peace—terrorists continue to sack villages, burn farmlands, and execute community leaders with staggering impunity.

Critics point to several systemic failures of the Tinubu administration in handling this crisis:

• Reactionary, Not Preventive, Security: Despite communities often sending early warning signals to security agencies before attacks occur, response times remain slow or nonexistent. In many cases, soldiers only arrive to help pack bodies into coffins rather than prevent the slaughter.
• The “Farmer-Herder Clash” Narrative: The presidency has consistently faced backlash for downplaying what locals and international watchdogs describe as an organized campaign of displacement. By continuously labeling these massacres as “communal clashes,” the administration dilutes the severity of the terrorism, treating perpetrators and victims as equal combatants.
• Persecuting the Messengers: Shockingly, local leaders who raise alarms are often targeted by state apparatuses. Dachomo himself previously revealed that security forces had accused him of “inciting unrest” simply because he publicly warned of impending attacks.

When the State Fails, Self-Defense Becomes Law

The absolute collapse of federal security has forced a dramatic shift in the region. Frustrated by the government’s empty promises of “bringing perpetrators to justice,” Reverend Dachomo recently joined the local volunteer hunter unit, the Nigerian Hunters and Forest Security Services (NHFSS), calling on his congregation to take up arms in self-defense.

During a mass funeral, standing in the back of a truck laden with the corpses of slain civilian guards, Dachomo declared that citizens must defend themselves to the death if the state will not protect them.

When a member of the clergy feels compelled to carry a Bible in one hand and a rifle in the other, it is a clear sign that the social contract between the Nigerian government and its citizens has completely shattered.

The World is Watching

The failure of the Tinubu administration to address these atrocities is already inviting severe international friction. Human rights groups and foreign lawmakers have recently warned that the Nigerian government will be held directly accountable if any harm comes to Dachomo or other key whistleblowers.

In his previous public addresses, Reverend Ezekiel Dachomo repeatedly warned the presidency of the rising security threats, calling for immediate action before the region fell into complete chaos. Those warnings went unheeded, and today, his family has paid the ultimate price while the silence from the government remains deafening.

Related