Gumi Challenges Nigerian Pastor To Produce List Of Christians Killed
Kaduna-Based Controversial Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has tasked outspoken Plateau State clergyman, Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo, to produce a list of 500 Christians killed by Islamic extremists and bandits, and he will also produce a list of at least 1,000 Muslims killed by Christian militias in Kaduna State.
Gumi, who was responding to allegations made by Dachomo on the widespread killing of Christians in the state, accused the reverend of falsifying the figures to draw sympathy from Nigerians and the international community, especially the United States and donor agencies.
Gumi who threw the challenge in an interview with Voice of the People TV on Monday, said Rev. Dachomo should be urged to take up the challenge with accuracy and fairness in discussions about the killings in Plateau instead of plucking inaccurate figures from the air.
Gumi insisted that Christian communities have been burying empty caskets in mass graves to deceive the world that there is an ongoing Christian genocide in the state.
He stressed that the lingering violence in the state has affected communities across religious and ethnic lines, as not only Christians are the victims, but Muslims have also been killed.
Speaking directly to Rev. Dachomo, Gumi said: “If you can show a list of 500 Christians that were massacred, I myself have a list of 1,000 Muslim families in the Kafanchan area who were massacred during the 2011 post-election riots.”
He noted that there have also been significant and extensive casualties among Muslim communities, and emphasized the importance of acknowledging historical and contemporary suffering on all sides.
“Selective narratives risk deepening distrust among religious groups,” he added, and called on national and community leaders to prioritize reconciliation and collective healing.
“Inflammatory statements made by religious leaders like Rev. Dachomo could escalate tensions at a time when the country is grappling with multiple security challenges.
“Dachomo’s assertion that Christians were being systematically massacred is are isolated narrative which will only fuel division rather than fostering understanding,” Gumi stated.
