Tinubu, I’m Waiting For My Arrest”: Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo Defies Threats and Demands Self-Defense After Tragic Family Massacre

BARKIN LADI, PLATEAU STATE — Outspoken Christian cleric and human rights advocate, Reverend Ezekiel Bwede Dachomo, has issued a fiery message of defiance to President Bola Tinubu’s administration, declaring that he is ready for arrest as his community transitions to active self-defense.

His bold statement follows a devastating tragedy in which suspected Fulani extremists brutally raided his family's residence in Barkin Ladi, Plateau State, leaving nine of his relatives dead in a pool of blood. Following the killings, the assailants reportedly sent a chilling threat letter directly to the cleric, warning him that he would meet the same gruesome fate as his slain family members.

A Family Decimated and a Direct Threat

Reverend Dachomo, who serves as the Regional Chairman of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) in Barkin Ladi, has long been a targeted voice for exposing what he terms an ongoing "genocide" against Christian farming communities in Nigeria’s Middle Belt.

Rather than silencing the cleric, this profound personal tragedy has fueled his resolve. In a direct reaction to the threat letter sent by the attackers, Dachomo refused to back down, addressing the presidency directly:

"Tinubu, I am waiting for my arrest. Self-defense is now a must, and we are fully prepared. Enough is enough."

The Push for Self-Defense Amid Security Failures

For years, communities across Plateau State have complained of late or completely absent responses from security agencies during active raids. Rev. Dachomo has previously accused security forces of acting late and instead targeting local community leaders who raise the alarm.

With his latest declarations, the cleric emphasized that when a government fails in its primary constitutional duty—the protection of lives and property—the citizens are left with no choice but to protect themselves.

"We have resorted to self-defense; otherwise, the name of Jesus will not be mentioned again in our land," Dachomo previously warned, a sentiment that has intensified following this personal tragedy.

Rejecting Asylum to Stand With His Flock

Despite receiving multiple offers of asylum and relocation from international bodies and countries like Australia and Austria due to the severe bounties placed on his head by extremist groups, Rev. Dachomo has consistently refused to leave Nigeria.

"I am going nowhere," he stated in a press briefing. "I stand with my people. I have already told my family and my church members that if I am kidnapped, nobody should pay a single kobo in ransom. My grave will speak, and my blood will raise a war that will lead to Christian liberation."

Global Spotlight on the Plateau Crisis

Dachomo’s fearless advocacy—which includes filming and publicizing emotional mass burials of attack victims—has drawn significant international attention. High-profile figures and international observers have closely monitored his safety, with some U.S. lawmakers previously warning the Nigerian government that it would be held directly responsible for any harm that befalls the cleric.

As tensions reach a boiling point in the Middle Belt, local stakeholders are urging the Federal Government to prioritize neutral, decisive security interventions rather than prosecuting community leaders who speak out in deep pain.