Ezekiel Dachomo, a Reverend and regional leader of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, has gone to Israel to draw international attention to killings and insecurity in Plateau and other parts of Nigeria.
Mr Dachomo shared his arrival in Israel on Friday, October 2, on his Facebook page. He called the trip his first international Christian advocacy tour.
He has been using his time in Israel to pray for Nigeria, its leaders, and communities facing violence.
The cleric plans to highlight attacks that affect communities in Plateau and the wider Middle Belt. He wants to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
His program also includes meetings with Christian leaders and prayer groups from different countries. He hopes to rally attention and prayers for Nigeria.
Mr Dachomo has spoken many times about the attacks on communities in Plateau. He describes some of the violence as persecution and "genocide" against Christians.
In a message about his visit, he said he was in Israel to pray for Nigeria, its leaders, and its people. "Today, I am in Israel praying for Nigeria, our leaders, and our people. I believe in miracles, and I believe God can change what looks impossible," he said.
In a video with his message, Mr Dachomo mentioned that he had also prayed for Israel, its people, and its leadership. This includes Mr Netanyahu, his cabinet, and the Israel Defence Forces.
He prayed for President Bola Tinubu, Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang, and other African leaders.
The cleric said his advocacy would also cover Muslims and other Nigerians affected by violence. "I am coming to stand for Nigeria and to pray for our nation: for Muslims being killed in Zamfara, Kebbi, Sokoto, and Katsina; for Christians; for my Biafran brothers," he said.
Mr Dachomo talked about attacks in his community, claiming that armed men invaded his village and killed three people there.
He hopes that if he meets Mr Netanyahu one-on-one, he can share what he calls the suffering of Christian communities in Nigeria. "By God’s grace, if we meet one-on-one in Israel, I will share with him the agony of Christians in Nigeria," he said.
This trip to Israel comes after Mr Dachomo's ongoing advocacy for security in Plateau State. He has been very vocal after attacks on communities in the state, including an incident in July where he said nine members of his extended family were killed in Riyom Local Government Area.
His new initiative aims to take that advocacy beyond Nigeria. The cleric wants to engage international Christian groups and shine a light on the security issues facing communities in Plateau and other areas of the country.
Nigeria’s insecurity impacts communities across religious and ethnic lines. Terrorism, banditry, communal violence, farmer-herder conflicts, and criminality are all factors affecting different parts of Nigeria.
Claims about who is behind the attacks, their motives, and the religious aspects of each attack need to be verified independently.
For Mr Dachomo, this visit to Israel is a chance to push his campaign for more international awareness about Plateau’s security crisis. The results of his planned meetings with Israeli officials and international Christian groups will shape how far his advocacy can reach.
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