A Christian youth group under the umbrella of Plateau Christians Youth Forum, PCYF, has thrown its weight behind outspoken clergyman, Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo.
This is following attacks and threats by Muslim leaders after he made controversial remarks during a recent mass burial calling Allah a bloodsucking god.
The Barkin Ladi Regional Chairman of Church of Christ in Nations, COCIN, who has been consistent in the condemnation of alleged Christian genocide in Plateau State and the Middle Belt in general, had during another mass burial recently, stated that Islamist extremists who shout ‘Allahu Akbar’ (Allah is the greatest) while attacking and killing Christians, are proof that they carry out the killings in the name of their god.
However, the remarks had drawn a wide range of condemnation from Islamic scholars and Muslim leaders who issued a stern warning to the outspoken clergyman to stop making comments that are capable of inciting Christians against Muslims in the state.
Some Muslims group also called on authorities to arrest and prosecute the man of God as his comments are capable of disrupting the fragile peace in the state and leading to further violence.
One of such groups, “The Fulani Defenders”, in a statement, said:
“In the past few months, the respected Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo has been consistent in making inflammatory comments that are capable of further inciting the people of Plateau State and turning Christians against the Hausa-Fulani.”
“It is quite unfortunate that at a time everyone is preaching peace and harmony, Rev. Dachomo is doing everything possible to set the natives against the Hausa-Fulani people with his comments. We hereby call on the state government and security agencies to arrest and prosecute Rev. Dachomo over the inflammatory statements,” the group said.
However, the PCYF has come out in support of Rev. Dachomo, saying he made the remarks in the heat of a grieving moment while conducting yet another mass burial for promising youths cut down by Islamist extremists.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Coordinator of the PCYF, Markus Malum, the group warned the Muslim leaders that if anything happens to the clergyman, they will be held responsible.
“The Plateau Christians Youth Forum, PCYF, has noted with dismay the attacks and threats on our father in the Lord, Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo by Muslim leaders and groups over a statement he made while conducting yet another mass burial for promising youths in Barkin Ladi,” the statement reads.
“It will be recalled that the youths, the leaders of tomorrow, were slaughtered by Islamic extremists who reportedly shouted “Allahu Akbar”, meaning “Allah is the greatest.”
“So in the grieving moment, our father made those comments which, taken literally, buttressed the fact that the Islamic religion endorses the killing of people who are not its adherents.
“By this statement, we want to warn the Muslim leaders to refrain from further attacks on our father in the Lord as we will not stand by and watch him being dragged in the mud. If anything happens to Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo, we will hold them responsible. We also call on security agencies to provide 24-hour security for him as well as track the so-called Muslim leaders and groups and bring them to justice,” the group further stated.
‘We stand with our father, Rev Dachomo’ – Plateau Christian youths
