The United States has strongly condemned the killing of members of Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo’s family in Plateau State, describing the attack as horrific and calling on Nigerian authorities to urgently strengthen security and hold the perpetrators accountable.
The statement from Washington adds international pressure on Abuja to address a growing pattern of violence in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, where Christian communities have repeatedly been targeted.
What Happened In Plateau
Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo is a Regional Leader of the Church of Christ in Nations, COCIN. According to U.S. officials and reports from Plateau, gunmen killed several members of his family in a recent attack.
A State Department spokesperson told Fox News Digital the U.S. had “seen reports of the killing of nine Christians in Plateau State in Nigeria” and described it as part of “a shocking level of violence against Christians in the Middle Belt committed by Fulani Ethnic Militia”.
The attack is the latest in a series of assaults in Plateau. In a separate incident in Gako Village, Riyom Local Government Area, gunmen killed Rev. Ayuba Choji, his wife Chundung Ayuba, and their two children Cyril and Endurance. Residents said the attackers stormed the village at about 11 p.m. and opened fire indiscriminately.Community leaders say the violence has forced many to flee their homes and farms, deepening fear across Riyom and neighboring Barkin Ladi.
Washington’s Response
The U.S. Bureau of African Affairs posted a condemnation on X on Thursday.“The United States strongly condemns the horrific killing of members of Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo’s family in Plateau State, Nigeria,” the bureau wrote. “The continued violence targeting Christian communities and other vulnerable populations in Nigeria’s Middle Belt is deeply alarming”.
The statement extended condolences to the victims’ families and said U.S. officials had already discussed the matter with Nigerian authorities.“As I discussed last week with Nigerian officials, we must do more to prevent violent acts like those yesterday,” the post continued. “The perpetrators must be held accountable, and urgent action is needed to strengthen security and protect Christians and other vulnerable communities”.
Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Frank Garcia, and a U.S. delegation reportedly raised the issue during meetings in Abuja from July 13–15, stressing Washington’s “grave concern regarding the violence Christians face in Nigeria and the need for concrete action”.
The U.S. said it will continue working with the Government of Nigeria to protect Christians and advance religious freedom.
A Wider Pattern Of Violence
The Dachomo family killing comes amid mounting international attention on attacks in Plateau and across the Middle Belt.
On July 9, the European Parliament passed an urgency resolution with 510 votes to 1, condemning the escalating persecution of Christians in Nigeria. It cited the June 22 massacre in Kawel village, Bokkos LGA, where gunmen killed over 20 Christians, including Rev. Markus Nyam, pastor of the Church of Christ in Nations.
Sean Nelson, Senior Counsel for Global Religious Freedom at Alliance Defending Freedom, said: “No community should have to bury its pastor and its children because they follow Christ. The massacre in Kawel is not an isolated tragedy. It is part of a devastating and well-documented pattern of violence against Christians in Nigeria”.
U.S. Congressman Riley Moore has also spoken out. After a Palm Sunday attack in Jos that reportedly killed at least 10 Christians, Moore warned that continued attacks could strain diplomatic relations. He described the violence as a pattern of attacks during Christian holy days and urged Abuja to “massively ramp up security”.
Local Christian leaders echo the concern. At a recent meeting, Baptist leaders listed several Plateau congregations still operating in communities now largely deserted. “These communities were once dominated by Christians and natives. Today, many people would be afraid to even visit them,” one leader said.
They also noted the economic toll, with churches that were once self-sustaining now depending on the conference for support, including pastors’ salaries.
Calls For Action
The U.S. statement made three clear demands: prevent further attacks, hold perpetrators accountable, and strengthen security for vulnerable communities.
Christian leaders in Plateau have made similar calls. They urged government to “match words with action”, sanction security personnel who compromise, and move quickly to establish state police so communities can better protect themselves.
Rev. Dachomo himself has appealed for U.S. support. In an interview with Fox News Digital, he asked President Trump to “stop the Fulani terrorists from killing our people in Nigeria’s Middle Belt and surrounding regions. These attacks against Christian communities have been going on for years and must be stopped. We need the United States to stand with us”.
The State Department spokesperson reiterated: “We unequivocally condemn this heinous act. We urge the Nigerian authorities to hold the perpetrators accountable and take specific steps that will improve security for Christians”.
Why Plateau Matters
Plateau sits at the heart of Nigeria’s Middle Belt, a region where farmer-herder clashes, banditry, and militia violence have converged over the last decade. Human rights groups and religious freedom organizations argue that the violence has disproportionately affected Christian villages.
With both the U.S. and European Parliament now speaking in strong terms, the pressure on Nigerian authorities to deliver visible security results is rising. For families in Riyom, Bokkos, and Jos, the demand is simpler: an end to the night raids, protection for churches, and justice for those already killed.
As the U.S. put it, urgent action is needed. For Rev. Dachomo and others mourning in Plateau, that urgency cannot come soon enough.
