Nigerian Pastor Threatened After Militia Kills Nine Family Members

A Nigerian pastor, recently highlighted by former President Donald Trump on social media, has reported that nine of his relatives were killed in an attack and that the Fulani militia has issued a death threat against him.

Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo, the regional leader of the Church of Christ in Nations in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, said the killings took place on July 12 at his family compound in the Riyom district of Plateau State. He noted that a two‑month‑old baby was among the victims and that the attackers reportedly searched for Dachomo, asking “where is the father of this house?” before opening fire indiscriminately.

A spokesperson for Rev. Dachomo’s church described the threat as “terrifying” after the militia sent a letter demanding his death. He added that the attack was a direct retaliation for his public advocacy of Christian rights in Nigeria.

Rev. Dachomo stated, “I know what it means to stand before grieving families whose only crime was refusing to deny Jesus Christ.” He emphasized the danger that he faces as a result of speaking out for persecuted Christians.

Judd Saul, founder of the nonprofit Equipping the Persecuted, told Fox News Digital that the Fulani militia’s targeting of Dachomo “is because he is waking up Christians to the reality of what they are facing.” Saul said his organization seeks to end radical Islamist violence against Christians in Nigeria.

Across 2025, Rev. Dachomo has overseen more than 70 mass burialsರನ್ನು of Christians, a number that has increased as killings continue. The Pastor’s Facebook post highlighted by President Trump shows him presiding over a funeral of more than 20 believers.

Equipping the Persecuted reports that, according to a six‑year study by the Observatory for Religious Freedom in Africa (ORFA), the Fulani militia has been responsible for four times more civilian deathsneq that Boko Haram and ISWAP have inflicted combined.

The U.S. State Department has expressed strong concern over the violence and urged the Nigerian government to take definitive action to safeguard Christians. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Frank García visited Abuja on July 13–15 and emphasized the need for tangible steps to improve security for Christian communities.

Wild outbreaks of violence have prompted the U.S. administration to conduct air strikes against Boko Haram and ISWAP in Northern Nigeria, but no reported operations have targeted Fulani militia groups in the Middle Belt.

Rev. Dachomo has end “We ask 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.” He urged President Tinubu to intervene to stop an “Islamic agenda” that threatens the safety of Christians.

“Maybe threaten my life, but not silence the truth. They may kill the messenger but not the message.”

He concludes, “The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do unto me?”

Following the incident involving Rev. Dachomo’s family, Nigerian Information Minister Rabiu Ibrahim said, “The Government rejects attempts to portray the nation’s security crisis as a conflict between faiths. Such narratives oversimplify complex realities and risk serving the interests of criminal groups that exploit faultistanda, create fear, and undermine national cohesion.” He added that investigations into the identity and motives of the attackers would be conducted thoroughly.

Paul Tilsley, a veteran correspondent with decades of coverage across four continents, concludes: “I am based in Johannesburg, South Africa, and can be followed on X @paultilsley.”

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