Plateau Pastor Mourns Nine Family Members Killed in Attack

(Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo. Photo by Daly Post)

The Regional Chairman of the Church of Christ in Nations for Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo, has disclosed that all nine victims k!lled by Fulani t3rrorists in an overnight att@ck on Kum Community in Riyom Local Government Area of the state on Saturday were members of his extended family.

Dachomo made this known while conducting a mass burial for the deceased on Monday, noting that this was not the first time members of his family, both nuclear and extended, had been targeted and k!lled by Islamist extremists since he began drawing global attention to what he describes as ongoing genocide in the state.

He recalled that his own grandmother was k!lled with her heart cut out by the att@ckers, while one of his uncles was also butchered with his tongue removed.

He said the community had gathered once again to bury their people, lamenting that once more, all the victims were his own blood relatives, and questioning claims that there is no genocide in Plateau State.

He described Kum as his second home, recalling that he used to stay there with family as a young man and continued visiting even after his conversion, drawn by a mountain in the area where he would observe quiet time.

He identified the victims as his uncles, aunts, cousins, nephews and nieces, and noted that this was not the first time his family had suffered such losses, recounting again how his grandmother had been k!lled with her heart removed, and how his uncle had been k!lled and had his tongue cut out. Despite this, he said he had forgiven those responsible, addressing the Fulani k!llers directly and stating that he forgave them for the mur der of his family members.

According to a field report submitted by Rev. Nehemiah Mutfwang, based on information gathered by volunteer Mr. Barnabas Tok during an on-the-spot assessment, the victims, all members of the James family, were identified as Celina James (38), Yohanna James (21), Janet Yohanna (18), Jenifer Yohanna (3 months), Sele James (18), Melody James (16), Rito James (10), Endurance James (8), and Peace James (3).

The report noted that the only known survivor, Pam Yohanna, sustained injuries and is currently receiving medical attention.

The tragic att@ck has renewed calls for stronger security measures, accountability for perpetrators, and sustained support for victims and displaced families.