A United States congressman has warned that Washington will hold the Nigerian government responsible if any harm comes to a Plateau-based pastor who says he has been receiving threats after speaking about attacks on Christian communities.
Congressman Riley Moore, who represents West Virginia, issued the statement on his X (formerly Twitter) account after Reverend Ezekiel Dachomo alleged that supporters of President Bola Tinubu had warned him to stop criticising the government.
“How can you trust a government that doesn’t even show up when you ask them to? The US will hold the Nigerian government responsible if anything should happen to the pastor,” Mr Moore wrote.
Rev Dachomo gained attention online for posting videos about what he describes as ongoing killings of Christians in Plateau State, which he blames on armed Fulani groups. He said individuals linked to the government had warned him to stop sharing such material.
The pastor also alleged that a top official in the administration contacted him after a presidential adviser visited him, urging him to tone down his criticism.
Less than a day after speaking publicly about the threats, Rev Dachomo’s Facebook page disappeared, and a newly created Instagram account was removed soon after.
According to him, Meta later locked him out of all his accounts, describing his content as a “national security threat” to Nigeria.
The development has prompted criticism from activists in Nigeria and abroad, who argue the pastor is being silenced rather than protected. Several groups have reportedly offered him legal support.
Congressman Moore said the pastor was in “clear danger”, recalling a previous incident in which Rev Dachomo claimed to have alerted authorities to a planned attack. Officials at the time dismissed his warning as “fake news,” but 13 people were later reported killed.
The Nigerian government has not yet publicly responded to the congressman’s comments or the allegations made by the pastor.
