A controversy has erupted in Nigeria after Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, a prominent Islamic cleric, alleged that Christians in Plateau State and other parts of the Middle Belt region are burying empty coffins in mass graves to create a false narrative of genocide. Reverend Ezekiel Dachomo, a clergyman from Plateau State, has responded by challenging Sheikh Gumi to provide evidence for his claims or face a court proceeding.
Sheikh Gumi made the allegations in a Facebook post, citing a doctor who claimed that some Middle Belt Christian groups were staging fake mass killings and burying empty coffins to deceive the world and push the narrative of a Christian genocide. However, Reverend Dachomo has vehemently denied these claims, stating that the allegations are not only false but also disrespectful to the victims and their families.
To counter Sheikh Gumi’s claims, Reverend Dachomo took a team of journalists to a mass grave in the Bindi-Jebbu community of Riyom Local Government Area, where 27 victims were buried after being killed by Fulani militias in July 2025. The victims included women and children who were brutally murdered in an overnight assault. Reverend Dachomo emphasized that the community is willing to exhume the bodies to prove that the coffins were not empty, and he invited international organizations and media to visit the site to verify the facts.
Reverend Dachomo also criticized Sheikh Gumi for downplaying the killings of innocent people by Fulani militias in the state, stating that his actions are a mockery to the survivors and a desecration of the dead. The clergyman called on the international community, including the United States and the United Nations, to take notice of the situation and provide support to the affected communities.
The controversy highlights the ongoing tensions and conflicts in Nigeria’s Middle Belt region, where clashes between Fulani herdsmen and Christian farming communities have resulted in numerous deaths and displacements. The incident also underscores the need for accurate information and responsible communication to avoid exacerbating the situation. As the controversy unfolds, it remains to be seen how Sheikh Gumi will respond to Reverend Dachomo’s challenge and whether the international community will take action to address the ongoing violence in the region.
