An outspoken Plateau State cleric, Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo, has criticised the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, accusing him of diverting United States troops away from Plateau State despite earlier appeals for international assistance to address attacks in the area.
Dachomo, who serves as the Barkin Ladi Regional Chairman of the Church of Christ in Nations, made the allegation in a video message released on Friday.
The cleric recalled that he had previously appealed to former United States President Donald Trump to send troops to Plateau State to help tackle insurgent attacks and killings allegedly targeting Christian communities.
According to him, the request followed a wave of violence carried out by extremist groups in parts of the state.
However, when the United States responded with military action, it conducted precision airstrikes in Sokoto State targeting insurgent groups including ISWAP, Boko Haram and Lakurawa.
Following the December 25, 2025 airstrikes, detachments of US troops were reportedly deployed to several northern states.
But Dachomo claimed Plateau State was excluded from the deployment, which he attributed to the alleged intervention of the National Security Adviser.
The cleric said, “When I invited Trump to Nigeria to come and help us, their blueprint was that none of the American soldiers should come to Plateau State.
“The National Security Adviser redirected the attention of the U.S. to Sokoto State and the Muslim-dominated areas in the north.”
Dachomo alleged that the decision to deploy the troops elsewhere was intended to protect Muslim communities while attacks continued in predominantly Christian areas.
He further stated, “Now the Muslims are enjoying the coming of Trump and the American soldiers. They are now saying Trump is in Nigeria to protect the Muslims.
“Christians are being killed like chickens. There are killings ongoing in Christian-dominated areas in Borno, Kwara, Kaduna, Benue, and Plateau.”
The cleric warned that the continued violence against Christian communities in the Middle Belt could push residents to defend themselves.
“That is their roadmap to wipe out Christians in Nigeria, to make sure that nobody stands for us. It has come to a time when we must stand up and defend ourselves,” he added.
He also claimed that the deployment of foreign troops had benefited Muslim communities more than the Christian groups that initially appealed for help.
“Now the Muslims in northern Nigeria are benefiting more than the Christians who called for the help,” he said.