‘Fulani terrorists imported into Plateau to kill Christians’ – Rev Dachomo cries out

Outspoken Plateau State clergyman, Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo, has alleged that due to the designation of Nigeria as a ‘Country of Particular Concern’ by United States President Donald Trump, some politicians have imported Fulani terrorists into the state to kill as many Christians as possible.

Dachomo, the Regional Chairman for the Church of Christ in Nations, COCIN, in Barkin Ladi local government area of the state, raised the alarm in a video message he posted on social media on Wednesday.

In the video, he said he has inside information that thus far, thousands of terrorist groups, particularly Fulani ethnic militias from Bauchi State and other places, have already established camps along the state’s borders and gradually advancing into communities through a series of violent attacks and land-grabbing campaigns.

He stated that the terrorists and their sponsors have heard what President Donald Trump said about sending in US forces into Nigeria and are now making sure they kill as many people in the state as possible before the arrival of the US soldiers.

“Already, they have declared war on Plateau State. As I’m talking to you, yesterday we buried one corpse in the night and they killed two people again,” he said in the video.

Continuing, he said: “This morning, I am telling you, come and see Fulani terrorists invited from Bauchi and other places being transported into Plateau. I was able to get a report from an insider and what the man told me has come to be the truth.

“This morning, as I’m talking to you, they are trooping into Dorowa, a community that shares borders with parts of Bauchi State, especially the Fulani-dominated areas of Bauchi.

“They are trooping into Dorowa in their thousands. They are currently camping behind Dorowa village in Nyarwei village in Faan district. Now what do you want us to do? We are going to defend ourselves to the death.

“So I’m making this video to tell the whole world, please pray for us Christians. Your prayer is more than AK-47s, it’s more than rocket launchers. It will destroy and destabilize even the coven in the dark world and that is what I’m doing in the office right now.”

This is not the first time Rev. Dachomo has made such an alert about terrorists’ incursions into the state. Sometime in October, he had raised an alarm about potential Fulani terrorist attacks in the Dorowa area of Barkin Ladi.

In a video that went viral, he alleged that an insider source had revealed to hin that Fulani terrorists was penetrating the state through Nyerwai and were going to attack some communities simultaneously.

But the alert was discredited by security forces who labeled him a liar and an alarmist who was deliberately employing emotionally charged and divisive narratives to whip up ethno-religious sentiments and curry favour from the local populace.

The military authorities, in a statement issued at the time, said, “The Reverend’s accusations extend to claims of a Fulani leader influencing security forces to shield Fulani suspects from arrest. He also criticizes Christian authorities for alleged inaction, suggesting a link to ISWAP.

“Dachomo’s statements culminate in a call to arms for local youths to defend themselves and a plea for prayer, painting a dire picture of the security situation in the region.

“Accordingly, the viral video by Rev. Dachomo alleging mobilisation of Fulani terrorists through Nyerwai in Barkin Ladi LGA and accusing security agencies of collusion is a clear case of propaganda intended to inflame public sentiment and erode confidence in security agencies.

“Rev. Dachomo’s accusation is baseless and aimed at causing unnecessary tension. The JTF OPEP condemns the misleading narratives and hereby warns the propagator to desist from causing panic and discord among the peace-loving people of the state to abstain from such acts or face the full wrath of the law.”

But despite the denials, Dachomo’s alert turned out to be true as the very night he raised the alarm, three communities in Barkin Ladi were attacked simultaneously with over 17 people killed.

‘Fulani terrorists imported into Plateau to kill Christians’ – Rev Dachomo cries out