The Chairman of Christian Association of Nigerian America (CANAN) in the United States of America (USA), Dr. Banjo Olaniyan has written a letter to the Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that the life of Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo has been threatened since he reported that nine members of his family have been killed by Armed Bandits in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State in July.

 

According to Olaniyan, he is writing with profound grief and an urgent appeal following the horrific killing of nine members of’ a single family in the July attack on Kum and Wereng-Camp communities in Riyom Local Goverment Area of Plateau State.

 

He said that Dachomo who is a prominent leader of Church of Christ in Nations and advocate for persecuted communities, has publicly stated that the nine victims were members of his extended family.

 

He (Olaniyan) wrote this letter to the President and sent copies to Journalists in Jos yesterday for their information and action. He said that the killing represents nine human beings, a devastated family, a traumatized community, and another painful reminder that too many Nigerians live with the fear that armed men can enter their communities, kill their loved ones, destroy their property, and disappear without consequence.

 

For Olaniyan, and more alarming was that Dachomo said that after the killings, he and members of his church received a written threat letter promising further violence and his death, saying that copies of the threatening letter have been submitted to Nigerian security agencies.

 

“Mr. President, this is the moment for decisive presidential intervention. PROTECT REV. DACHOMO BEFORE ANOTHER TRAGEDY OCCURS Rev. Dachomo has become an internationally recognized voice drawing attention to the suffering of vulnerable communities in Plateau State. Whether one agrees with every characterization he uses or not, no Nigerian should face assassination for speaking about the killing of his people.

 

“We respectfully call upon your administration to immediately provide appropriate special security protection for Rev. Dachomo, his immediate family, church, and other persons specifically named or implicated in credible threats. The reported threat should be treated as actionable intelligence-not merely recorded after the fact”, he wrote.

 

According to Olaniyan, security alone is no longer sufficient because families have reportedly lost loved ones, homes, farms, livelihoods and property through recurring violence. “We therefore urge the Federal Government, working with Plateau State and affected local governments, to establish an Emergency Victims’ Relief, Compensation and Reconstruction Initiative for communities devastated by repeated attacks.

 

“Such an intervention should provide compensation or appropriate assistance to bereaved families; medical and rehabilitation support for the wounded and maimed; reconstruction assistance for destroyed homes, churches, schools and community infrastructure; trauma counseling; livelihood restoration; and sure resettlement for displaced families.

 

“Compensation cannot replace a husband, wife, parent or child. But government assistance communicates something indispensable. Nigeria has not abandoned its citizens. Such an intervention should provide compensation or appropriate assistance to bereaved families; medical and rehabilitation support for the wounded and maimed; reconstruction assistance for destroyed homes, churches, schools and community infrastructure; trauma counseling: livelihood restoration; and safe resettlement for displaced families.

 

“Mr. President, Nigerians need more than condolences after mass killings. They need justice. We call for an independent, credible investigation into the latest killings, the reported threats against Rev. Dachomo, and the wider pattern of attacks affecting communities in Plateau State.

 

“Those responsible-irrespective of ethnicity, religion, political connection or social status-must be identified, arrested and prosecuted according to Nigerian law. Here credible evidence establishes organized networks financing, supplying, sheltering directing attackers, those networks must also be dismantles

 

“The Nigerian state must demonstrate that murder will have consequences. The President must send a message to every vulnerable community. This appeal is not a call for retaliation against any ethnic or religious community. Collective blame would only deepen Nigeria’s wounds.

 

“It is a call for the Nigerian government to protect every citizen, defend freedom of religion, confront impunity and restore confidence in the rule of law. The killing of Christians must matter, the killing of Muslims must matter, the killing of any Nigerian must matter. And where communities suffer repeated attacks connected to their religious identity, government has a responsibility to investigate those patterns seriously rather than dismiss the fears of victims.”