Plateau Christian Association, Youths Allege Persistent Genocide

BY ACHOR ABIMAJE, Jos

Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Plateau State chapter and the Coalition of Indigenous Youths Bodies (COIYB), have raised alarm over what they described as a systematic genocide against Christian communities in Nigeria, particularly in the North and Middle Belt regions.

The two groups made THE allegations at a joint press conference held in Jos, Plateau State, and addressed by Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo, chairman of the Ropp Regional Church Council of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN).

Speaking to journalists, Dachomo said the coalition had compiled extensive documentation, including community records, victim lists, photographs, and official reports, which it claims show sustained and targeted attacks on predominantly Christian communities.

He described the violence as organised and deliberate, rejecting narratives that frame the killings as farmer-herder clashes or communal conflicts.

According to him, entire villages have allegedly been attacked, residents killed or displaced, homes and churches destroyed, and ancestral lands occupied and renamed. He said the coalition believes the attacks amount to genocide and religious cleansing, aimed at erasing the Christian presence from specific areas.

Rev. Dachomo, who spoke emotionally, said he was presenting the testimony both as a clergy member and as a witness, claiming personal losses and trauma from attacks in affected communities.

He alleged that pastors have been assassinated, women raped, children abducted, and communities forced into displacement camps, while perpetrators continue to operate with impunity.

The clergy further accused the Nigerian government of failing to adequately protect affected populations, alleging security lapses, judicial bias, and structural policies that disadvantage indigenous communities.

He cited cases where individuals who defended themselves were reportedly prosecuted, while attackers were not held accountable.

The coalition referenced the recent pardon granted to a Christian farmer in Adamawa State, Sunday Jackson, describing the case as emblematic of what it called a broader injustice against victims of violence.

While welcoming the pardon, Rev Dachomo said it did not address underlying concerns about the treatment of victims who act in self-defence.

The group also alleged that extremist groups and armed militias are pursuing ideological objectives linked to religious domination, pointing to attacks in parts of Plateau, Kaduna, Benue, and other states. It claimed that data compiled by the coalition showed hundreds of deaths in Plateau State alone within short periods, alongside widespread destruction of homes, schools, and places of worship.

Rev. Dachomo further expressed concern over the displacement of communities and alleged land seizures, saying displaced persons are often unable to return to their ancestral homes. He criticised what he described as poor enforcement of existing laws, including Plateau State’s anti-land-grabbing legislation.

The coalition called for immediate international intervention to protect vulnerable communities, official recognition of genocide allegations, decentralisation of Nigeria’s security architecture, and the establishment of an international tribunal to investigate alleged crimes against humanity. Other demands included constitutional reforms, reviews of land and security laws, and the deployment of international protection and monitoring mechanisms in affected regions.

According to the groups, they are not calling for revenge but for justice, protection, and the right of affected communities to live and worship freely on their ancestral lands. Copies of a detailed report and annexures, covering incidents from 2001 to 2024 across multiple states, were distributed to members of the press.