Plateau cleric travels to Israel to seek attention for Nigeria’s insecurity

Rev Ezekiel Dachomo, a regional leader of the Church of Christ in Nations in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, has travelled to Israel to draw international attention to killings and insecurity in Plateau and other parts of Nigeria. Dachomo announced his arrival on October 2, describing the trip as his first international Christian advocacy tour. He said he intended to pray for Nigeria, its leaders and communities affected by violence.

The cleric said he hoped to secure an audience with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. His planned activities also include engagements with Christian leaders and prayer groups from different countries, whom he hopes to mobilise around Nigeria’s security challenges. Dachomo has repeatedly spoken about attacks affecting communities in Plateau and the wider Middle Belt.

He has described some of the violence as persecution and genocide against Christians, but those descriptions are his characterisation and are not presented as an established finding. In a message about the visit, he said his advocacy would include Muslims and other Nigerians affected by insecurity. He referred to violence in several northern states and said he was travelling to stand for Nigeria and pray for the country.

Dachomo also alleged that armed men had invaded his village and killed three people in his jurisdiction. He said he hoped to present what he described as the suffering of Christian communities in Nigeria if he met Netanyahu. The visit follows his public advocacy after attacks in Plateau, including an attack in July in which he alleged that nine members of his extended family were killed in Riyom Local Government Area.

The outcome of his proposed meetings with Israeli officials and international Christian groups was not stated.