‘I Am Tired Of Burying My People,’ Plateau Pastor Cries Out After Four More Killings Near His Church, Appeals To US

In a post on X on Sunday, the cleric expressed grief over the fresh killings, saying he was struggling to cope with repeatedly burying members of his congregation.

Reverend Ezekiel Dachomo, Regional Chairman of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN), has said four more people have been killed near his church in Plateau State, renewing his appeal to the United States Government and international community to intervene in the recurring attacks on communities in the state.

Dachomo, a human rights activist and outspoken advocate for communities affected by violence in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, said the latest killings occurred days after he attended the burial of members of his congregation who were killed in an earlier attack.

In a post on X on Sunday, the cleric expressed grief over the fresh killings, saying he was struggling to cope with repeatedly burying members of his congregation.

“I am heartbroken again. How many more tears must I shed before the world hears our cry?” he wrote.

He said he had recently stood beside a mass grave in Plateau State, mourning members of his congregation whose lives were cut short by violence, but was now confronted with another tragedy.

“Four more innocent people have been killed near my church. Four more families have been thrown into mourning. Four more homes have been filled with unbearable silence,” Dachomo stated.

The pastor questioned how many more people would have to die before authorities and the international community took decisive action to protect affected communities.

He also expressed fears for his own safety, asking whether he could become the next victim of an attack.

“And who knows whether I am next?” he asked.

“Who can guarantee that tomorrow I will not be the one lying in a grave while my congregation gathers to mourn me? Who will stand beside my family if the next attack takes my life?” he added.

Describing the emotional toll of repeatedly losing members of his congregation, Dachomo said his responsibility as a pastor had become increasingly difficult amid the persistent violence.

“I am a shepherd. My responsibility is to protect, pray for, comfort, and lead my flock. But what happens when the shepherd is constantly forced to bury the very people he was called to care for?” he wrote.

He added, “My beloved, I am tired of burying my people. I am tired of seeing innocent blood spilled. I am tired of watching children become orphans and women become widows.”

The cleric said affected communities could no longer afford to remain helpless in the face of recurring attacks, insisting that residents must stand together to protect their families and demand urgent action.

“Our only option left is to fight for survival,” he declared.

Dachomo warned that continued inaction could leave entire communities devastated, with children growing up surrounded by stories of killings, mass graves and broken families.

He specifically appealed to the United States Government and American citizens to intervene, saying the affected communities needed more than expressions of sympathy.

“I am therefore making another desperate appeal to the United States Government and the American people. Please, hear our cry. Please, help us,” he said.

“We are not asking for sympathy alone; we are asking for meaningful intervention to protect innocent lives, strengthen security, support displaced families, and bring those responsible for these killings to justice.”

He questioned how many more Nigerians would have to be killed before the international community responded with urgency.

“If these were your children, your parents, your brothers, or your sisters, would silence still be an option?” he asked.

Dachomo said he would continue speaking out against the violence and demanding justice for affected communities despite the personal risks.

“I WILL KEEP RAISING MY VOICE. I WILL KEEP SPEAKING FOR MY PEOPLE. I WILL KEEP CRYING OUT FOR JUSTICE,” he wrote.

He concluded by praying for the families of those killed, the protection of survivors and the strength to endure further hardship.

“Because honestly, I do not know how many more funerals this broken heart can endure,” the pastor added.

Dachomo did not identify the four people reportedly killed in the latest attack or provide further details about when and how they were killed in his post.