Nine Family Members of Nigerian Pastor Killed After Gunmen Demand His Location

Armed men stormed a family compound in Kum village, Plateau State, Nigeria on the night of July 11, 2026, killing nine relatives of Reverend Ezekiel Dachomo, a regional chairman of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN).

The attackers, who spoke Fulfulde and are suspected to be members of a Fulani ethnic militia, broke into the home and demanded to see the "father of the house." When family members could not produce the pastor, the gunmen opened fire. Among the nine killed was a two-month-old infant.

Survivor James Yohanna told reporters the attackers warned the family would "learn a hard lesson" before leaving. The victims were buried on July 13 in a funeral attended by Reverend Dachomo, who said he was the intended target.

Dachomo has been a vocal critic of violence against Christians in Nigeria's Middle Belt for years. He has previously lost his grandmother and an uncle in separate attacks. After the July massacre, he received written death threats from the same militia warning he would be next.

Despite offers of asylum, the pastor said he plans to stay in the region to continue his ministry and advocacy work.

The U.S. Department of State's Bureau of African Affairs issued a formal condemnation, calling the attack "horrific" and urging Nigerian officials to protect vulnerable communities and ensure accountability for the perpetrators.

Nigeria's Middle Belt has seen years of violence between farming communities and herding groups, with Christian communities bearing a significant share of the casualties. Human rights organizations have repeatedly called on the Nigerian government to do more to protect civilians in the region.