Fresh concerns have emerged over the safety of Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo after the Christian Association of Nigerian America (CANAN) asked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to provide him with immediate security.
CANAN Chairman, Dr Banjo Olaniyan, made the appeal in a letter to President Tinubu following the killing of nine members of Rev. Dachomo’s extended family during attacks on Kum and Wereng-Camp communities in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State in July.
Rev. Dachomo, a senior leader of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN), has spoken publicly about the attack and the growing insecurity affecting many communities in Plateau State. According to Dr Olaniyan, Rev. Dachomo’s decision to speak out has now placed his own life in danger.
Olaniyan said Rev. Dachomo and members of his church received a written death threat after he disclosed the killings. He added that the church had already submitted copies of the threat letter to Nigerian security agencies.
He described the development as deeply troubling and urged the President to treat the threat as credible intelligence rather than waiting until another attack takes place.
“No Nigerian should fear death simply because they spoke about the suffering of their people,” Olaniyan said.
A Family’s Loss Reflects a Bigger Crisis
Dr Olaniyan said the killing of nine members of one family goes beyond statistics. He said the attack left behind grieving relatives, traumatised survivors and a community struggling to recover.
According to him, many communities in Plateau State continue to live with fear as armed attackers invade villages, destroy homes, kill innocent people and leave without facing justice.
He warned that repeated attacks have forced many families from their homes, destroyed farms and businesses, and left survivors without a stable source of income.
CANAN Calls for Immediate Government Action
Beyond providing security for Rev. Dachomo, CANAN urged the Federal Government to launch an emergency relief and reconstruction programme for communities affected by repeated attacks.
Olaniyan said the programme should provide financial support for bereaved families, medical treatment for injured victims, trauma counselling and assistance to rebuild homes, churches, schools and other public facilities destroyed during the violence.
He also called for support to help displaced families return home safely and rebuild their livelihoods. According to him, government assistance cannot erase the pain of losing loved ones, but it can give affected families hope and show that the nation has not abandoned them.
Justice Must Follow the Killings
Dr Olaniyan also called for an independent investigation into both the killings and the reported threats against Rev. Dachomo. He urged security agencies to identify, arrest and prosecute everyone connected to the attacks, regardless of religion, ethnicity, political influence or social status.
He added that authorities should also dismantle any criminal networks found to be financing, supplying or protecting armed groups responsible for the violence. “Nigerians need more than condolences after every attack,” he said. “They need justice, accountability and confidence that the law will protect them.”
Every Nigerian Deserves Protection
Olaniyan stressed that his appeal does not seek to blame any ethnic or religious group. Instead, he called on the government to uphold its constitutional duty to protect every Nigerian, defend freedom of religion and restore confidence in the rule of law.
He said every life carries equal value, regardless of faith or background. “The killing of Christians must matter. The killing of Muslims must matter. The killing of every Nigerian must matter,” he said.
He urged the Federal Government to investigate repeated attacks on vulnerable communities thoroughly and ensure that victims receive justice while those responsible face the full weight of the law.
