Reverend Dachomo decries killing of Christian family in Plateau as U.S. lawmakers move to restrict security aid to Nigeria

Africa, Crime Diary, International

JOS, Nigeria (NPA) — Reverend Ezekiel Dachomo, Regional Leader of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN), has condemned the killing of an entire Christian family in Plateau State, describing it as yet another tragic example of persecution in Northern Nigeria.

The victims — Rev. Ayuba Choji, his wife, and two children, Precious and Ishaya — were allegedly killed by radical Islamists on April 27, 2026, and laid to rest three days later in Kwi, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area. Their only surviving son managed to escape through a window during the attack.

“My heart bleeds for Nigeria. How can you kill a man of God and his family just because of his choice of worship?” Dachomo lamented.

In a statement on Friday, the cleric—who has been at the forefront of global awareness campaigns on the killing of Christians in Nigeria—urged citizens and the international community to resist indifference, stressing that families are breaking and faith is being tested. He called for justice, compassion, and an end to the cycle of violence.

Meanwhile, in Washington, Representative Riley Moore, head of the U.S. Congressional Committee investigating alleged Christian genocide in Nigeria, criticized the Tinubu administration for allegedly spending millions lobbying Congress while failing to adequately address the crisis.

Moore noted that the U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Committee recently passed the annual State Department funding bill, which includes provisions restricting security assistance to Nigeria unless specific criteria are met. These includes effective response to violence and accountability for perpetrators, Prioritization of resources for internally displaced persons, and facilitation of safe return and resettlement of displaced communities.

The bill requires the U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, to certify Nigeria’s compliance before half of the allocated funds can be released.

The development adds to mounting international concern over violence against Christians in Nigeria, as local clerics and global lawmakers continue to call for urgent action to protect vulnerable communities and restore peace.

The Nigerian government has consistently denied allegations of a Christian genocide, stressing that victims of terrorist attacks include Christians, Muslims, and animists alike. Officials argue that armed groups are indiscriminately targeting families and communities across the country, leaving widespread devastation in their wake.