An Islamic group called ‘United Plateau Muslims’ (UPM) has rejected the frequent claims of Christian genocide in the state made by Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo, accusing the cleric of trying to incite anti-Muslim sentiment. Responding to the cleric’s recent interview with News Central TV where he insisted on clear evidence of killings, the group countered that there have also been instances of Christians killing Muslims in some communities. In a statement on Wednesday, jointly signed by Coordinator Alhaji Jafaar Abbas and Secretary General Salisu Adamu, the UPM alleged that Rev. Dachomo is acting out a script intended to demonize Muslims in the state to secure international grants and make Christians hate Muslims. The group expressed its “restrained consternation” over what they called the daily demonization of Muslims, Hausas, and Fulanis by Rev. Dachomo, the Barkin Ladi Regional Chairman of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN), questioning if he is the only pastor in the state. They claimed he repeatedly raises allegations of Muslims and Fulanis killing Christians solely to “whip up unnecessary sentiments and hatred” for them. The group argued that while Rev. Dachomo attributes every attack and violence to Muslims and Fulani militias, there are also Christian militias, particularly from the Berom ethnic group, who attack and kill Muslims. Responding to Rev. Dachomo’s challenge for proof of Muslims being killed, the UPM asserted they have also documented a series of killings of Muslims carried out by Christian militias across the state and will present the evidence whenever he does so. The UPM cited several specific incidents of Muslim killings: in September 2001, during the Jos riots in Dilimi, over 290 Muslims were reportedly killed by Christian militias; between February and May 2004, hundreds of Muslims were allegedly massacred in Yelwa, Shendam LGA, with over 700 Muslims, including women and children, killed; in November 2008, following a disputed election in Jos North, Christian militias reportedly attacked Muslim settlements and killed over 700 people; in January and March 2010, 174 Muslims were killed in Kuru Karama by armed mobs of Christian Berom youths; in August 2021, a convoy of 90 Muslim travelers was attacked by Irigwe youths along Rukuba Road, Jos North, resulting in at least 22 deaths; and early this year, 27 Muslims traveling to Quan Pa’an for a wedding were ambushed in Mangu and killed by Christian youths. They also noted other incidents where youths, mostly Christians (Berom, Irigwe, Mwaghavul, and Tarok), would attack Muslim and Fulani-dominated communities. The UPM wondered why Rev. Dachomo fails to mention these attacks and the killing of Muslims, concluding that he is “only concerned about the killing of Christians in attacks that are mostly reprisal attacks.” The group challenged him to release his figures for Christians killed, stating they would release their “well-documented figures” in return, and warning that their “silence and patience should not be taken for granted.”
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