URGENT CONTEXT (November 2025): Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo is currently facing active assassination threats from Islamic extremists for his outspoken advocacy regarding attacks on Christians in Plateau State. The Anonymous Group recently warned that he has been marked for elimination within seven days. As of November 15, 2025, he is confirmed alive and preaching, but his life remains in grave danger.
Look, writing about Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo isn’t just documenting another pastor’s life story. This is about a man who is literally risking death every single day to speak truth about Christian persecution in Nigeria’s Middle Belt while government officials deny it’s happening and other religious leaders stay silent. This is a pastor who told his congregation not to pay ransom if he’s kidnapped, who conducts mass burials of church members killed by attackers, who sleeps with one eye open knowing militants have orders to “kill him and cut his head off,” yet continues preaching every Sunday. That’s not just ministry. That’s martyrdom in real-time.
I’m going to walk you through who Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo really is – his role as Regional Chairman of COCIN (Church of Christ in Nations) in Barkin Ladi, Plateau State, how his October 15, 2025 viral video from a mass burial sparked international attention including President Trump’s designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern, the Nigerian Army’s accusations against him, the death threats he faces daily, and why this humble pastor from Nigeria’s Middle Belt has become a symbol of Christian resistance against what many call genocide. This is his story – told while he’s still alive to tell it.
The COCIN Leader in the Eye of the Storm
Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo (full name: Ezekiel Dachomo Bwede) serves as the Regional Chairman of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, Nigeria.
Understanding COCIN:
The Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) is one of Nigeria’s largest indigenous Protestant denominations, with over 3 million members primarily in Plateau, Adamawa, and surrounding states. It’s deeply rooted in the Middle Belt’s Christian communities and has been severely affected by the violence plaguing the region.
Barkin Ladi: Ground Zero:
Barkin Ladi LGA is at the epicenter of attacks on Christian communities in Plateau State. This agricultural area has witnessed repeated assaults by armed groups, leading to hundreds of deaths, thousands displaced, and entire villages destroyed. As Regional Chairman, Dachomo isn’t leading from comfortable Lagos or Abuja – he’s shepherding a flock under siege.
His role means:
- Overseeing multiple COCIN congregations in the region
- Providing spiritual guidance during unprecedented trauma
- Conducting funerals and mass burials regularly
- Advocating for his persecuted community
- Coordinating with local security (when they respond)
- Supporting displaced families and orphans
This isn’t a ceremonial position. This is crisis leadership under fire – literally.
October 15, 2025: The Mass Burial That Changed Everything
On October 15, 2025, Rev. Dachomo conducted a mass burial for at least 13 Christians (some reports say 12) killed in coordinated attacks by suspected Fulani militants on October 14 in Rachas village (Heipang District) and Rawuru village (Fan District), both in Barkin Ladi LGA.
What Happened at the Burial:
Under clear skies, approximately 200 mourners gathered as 13 wooden coffins lay side by side. Dachomo, his voice trembling with emotion but anchored in faith, addressed the crowd and made a live video that would change his life forever.
In the video, he:
- Declared: “I am in bitterness”
- Cried out: “We are tired to be outside performing burial every day, and they expect us to [be silent]”
- Called out the Nigerian government for denying the genocide of Christians
- Pleaded directly to the UN, US Senate, and President Donald Trump to save them
- Stated clearly: “They are killing Christians in Nigeria”
- Accused Fulani attackers of targeting Christian communities specifically
- Supported claims of systematic Christian genocide despite government denials
Why This Video Mattered:
This wasn’t political posturing or attention-seeking. This was a pastor at his breaking point, surrounded by coffins of his church members, making a desperate cry for help to the international community because his own government was denying the reality he buried weekly.
Christianity Today reported: “These are Muslims chanting ‘Allahu Akbar’ when they are attacking. That’s the first thing you hear them shout,” Dachomo told them.
The video went viral. It reached international Christian persecution watchdogs, human rights organizations, and eventually – the White House.
President Trump’s Response: Nigeria Designated CPC
On November 8, 2025 (approximately three weeks after the mass burial), President Donald Trump designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) for religious freedom violations and threatened military action over alleged genocide against Christians.
While Trump’s decision involved multiple factors, Rev. Dachomo’s viral plea and similar testimonies from Middle Belt Christians were cited as evidence supporting the designation.
The Designation’s Impact:
This was unprecedented. Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation and largest economy, was now officially recognized by the US as systematically persecuting religious minorities. The designation carries potential sanctions and fundamentally changes US-Nigeria relations.
Many Nigerian Christians credit Dachomo’s courage in making that video – risking his own safety to document and publicize the massacres – with finally getting international attention after years of being ignored.
The Backlash: Accused by His Own Government
Rev. Dachomo’s boldness came with severe consequences from multiple directions.
The Nigerian Army’s Attack:
According to Daily Post Nigeria, Dachomo revealed that soldiers from the Nigerian Army’s Sector 4 in Barkin Ladi accused him of inciting unrest simply for warning about impending attacks.
“They accused me of knowing about the attack before it happened, just because I raised an alarm,” he stated. “Instead of protecting us, they label us the problem. How can we trust a system that accuses victims instead of helping them?”
The Nigerian Army even issued an official press release against him, accusing him of inciting people against the government and Muslims.
Think about what this means: a pastor warning his community about attacks gets accused by the military meant to protect him. The soldiers question how he knew attacks were coming – as if warning people makes you complicit rather than responsible.
Government Officials’ Responses:
Gimba Kakanda, senior special assistant to President Bola Tinubu, publicly dismissed Christian genocide claims, attributing killings to “herder-farmer clashes” and resource disputes rather than religious targeting.
This denial – in the face of Dachomo’s documented evidence of attackers shouting “Allahu Akbar” while burning churches – further isolated the pastor and his community.
The Death Threats: Marked for Assassination
In late October/early November 2025, the situation escalated dramatically.
The Anonymous Group Warning (November 8, 2025):
The Anonymous Group, known for hacktivism and cyber intelligence, posted on Facebook:
“Photos of Pastor Dachomo Bwede Ezekiel, a man of God, have been circulated among Islamic terrorists and bandits… They have issued orders to assassinate him within the next seven days, believing he is responsible for Trump’s intervention. The militants are furious that their livelihoods and their very lives are now in jeopardy and are being masterminded by this man. The instructions are ‘Kill him and cut his head off’.”
Dachomo’s Response:
Rather than flee or hide, Rev. Dachomo addressed the threats publicly:
“To die in Christ is gain for me. I have sold my soul to Jesus Christ. I will continue to stand for the truth no matter the consequences.”
In another statement: “My life is in grave danger. Even as I speak, I am on the lookout for attacks. I no longer sleep with my eyes closed. I have been attacked before but escaped.”
He’s also instructed his congregation: Do not pay ransom if I am kidnapped. This mirrors what happened to Senator Gyang Dantong, who was killed during a burial in similar circumstances.
The Daily Reality: Living Under Threat
Rev. Dachomo has described the terrifying reality of life in Barkin Ladi:
On Contacting Security:
“Police and military are difficult to contact whenever militants attack Christian communities because official phones are often switched off. Even when the police answer the phones, they do nothing.”
On Community Self-Defense:
“I have seen boys as young as 12 form vigilante groups, gathering sticks and cutlasses to defend against the attackers’ AK-47s.”
On Nightly Fear:
“At night, we pray and wish each other a good night. If we see ourselves alive in the morning we say, ‘Thank you, Jesus.'”
On The Purpose of His Videos:
“I made the video for record-keeping so that future generations will be able to see how we were terrorised and persecuted. This is what we are facing, and we have now resorted to self-defence; otherwise, the name of Jesus will not be mentioned again in our land.”
The Man Behind the Headlines: Character Testimonies
While biographical details about Dachomo’s early life, education, and family remain limited in public sources, people who know him have shared powerful testimonies:
Polycarp Pamdusu (Childhood Impact):
“Rev Ezekiel Dachomo shaped my childhood tremendously. Every time he graced the pulpit to preach, you will see a man that is convicted in his beliefs and love for the kingdom.”
He attributed his early knowledge of Christianity to Dachomo’s dedication and described him as “one of the few preachers in the country who speak directly and honestly about matters of faith without fear or compromise.”
Tochukwu Okwose (October 2025 Meeting):
A Nigerian youth who visited Dachomo in his office described the meeting as “impactful and revealing” and demanded that “the fiery preacher be protected at all costs.”
Anonymous Christian Researcher:
After investigating Dachomo’s ministry, one researcher concluded: “This is a true soldier of Christ. Despite facing destruction, danger, and personal loss, [he] had continued to serve with courage and trust in God… his steadfastness in the midst of adversity stood as an inspiration to many.”
The Broader Context: Why This Matters
The Statistics:
While exact numbers are disputed, Christian persecution watchdogs document thousands of Christians killed in Nigeria’s Middle Belt over the past decade, with Plateau State among the hardest hit.
The Pattern:
Attacks typically follow similar patterns:
- Armed groups (identified as Fulani militants) arrive at night
- They target churches first, then homes
- They shout “Allahu Akbar” during attacks
- Security forces are unresponsive or arrive after attackers leave
- Attackers face no consequences
- Communities are displaced and land is occupied
The Debate:
Nigerian government: These are resource conflicts between herders and farmers, not religious persecution.
Christian leaders like Dachomo: These are systematic attacks targeting Christian communities for elimination.
International observers: The evidence increasingly supports claims of religious targeting.
The Missing Persons Scare (November 2025)
In early November 2025, social media erupted with claims that Rev. Dachomo was missing. Harry Da Diegot posted: “Reverend Ezekiel Dachomo is MISSING. Let it be known! Another Christian voice is about to be silenced.”
The panic was real given the assassination threats. However, a church member quickly confirmed: “Reverend Ezekiel Dachomo is sound and healthy. He’s my presiding Pastor. He preached this morning, during service.”
This incident shows both the genuine fear for his safety and the active community watching to ensure he’s protected.
Why Other Pastors Stay Silent
One of the most striking aspects of Rev. Dachomo’s story is how alone he stands. Daily Post Nigeria noted: “In contrast, other men of God have been silent or sitting on the fence regarding the issue.”
Why the silence?
- Fear: Speaking out makes you a target
- Government pressure: Authorities discourage religious leaders from “inflaming tensions”
- Theological differences: Some believe Christians should suffer quietly rather than fight back
- Political connections: Many prominent pastors have relationships with government officials they don’t want to jeopardize
- Prosperity gospel focus: Many Nigerian megachurch pastors prioritize wealth preaching over persecution issues
Dachomo’s willingness to speak when others won’t makes him both heroic and vulnerable.
The Bottom Line: A Modern Martyr in the Making
Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo biography is still being written – literally, day by day, as he continues preaching despite knowing assassins have been ordered to kill him.
At approximately 200 mourners attending that October 15 mass burial, 13 coffins laid out, Dachomo’s voice trembling but resolute, making a video he knew might sign his death warrant – that image captures who he is.
This is a man who:
- Refuses to be silent while his congregation is slaughtered
- Documents massacres so history will remember
- Appeals to international powers when his own government denies reality
- Tells his church not to pay ransom if he’s kidnapped
- Declares “to die in Christ is gain” when facing assassination threats
- Continues preaching every Sunday despite knowing he’s marked for death
- Sleeps with one eye open but still shows up to lead worship
Whether you see him as a hero, a martyr-in-waiting, or a controversial figure who spoke when silence might have been safer, one thing is undeniable: Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo represents a kind of courage most people will never be called to demonstrate.
As of November 15, 2025, he is still alive. Still preaching. Still speaking truth. Still burying church members. Still trusting Jesus.
How long that remains true is unknown. But his courage has already ensured that when the world asks “didn’t anyone speak up?” about Christian persecution in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, the answer will be: Yes. Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo did. And he paid the price for it.
