Reverend Ezekiel Dachomo was seen sobbing inside a newly dug mass grave on October 16, 2024, after four of his parishioners – a father and his three sons – were slain in Shurum, Dorowa Babuje District of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, Plateau State. The harrowing footage has reignited calls for decisive action against the recurring violence that has plagued the Middle Belt.
**Key facts:**
- The victims were identified as a local father and his three sons, all members of the same community.
- The incident occurred on 16 October 2024, adding to more than 70 mass burials that Dachomo has overseen in recent years.
- Human Rights Watch describes the situation in Plateau as a persistent security crisis marked by killings, reprisals, weak protection and limited accountability.
- Amnesty International reported in May 2025 that at least 2,630 people had been killed in Plateau State since the current administration took office.
- President Bola Tinubu visited the state on 2 April 2024 after the Angwan Rukuba massacre but did not travel to the affected community or hospitals, limiting his engagement to the airport.
What triggered the latest mass burial?
The attack in Shurum was carried out by unidentified gunmen, whom local residents and many observers suspect to be armed Fulani militants. While media reports often label the perpetrators simply as "suspected gunmen" pending investigation, the pattern of similar assaults across the region points to a broader conflict involving land disputes, farmer‑herder tensions and banditry.
Who are the principal officials responsible for security?
- **[Reverend Ezekiel Dachomo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ezekiel_Dachomo)** – the cleric who has conducted over 70 mass burials in Plateau and neighboring states, becoming a symbolic witness to the crisis.
- **[President Bola Tinubu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bola_Tinubu)** – the head of state whose constitutional duty includes protecting citizens, yet whose limited on‑the‑ground presence after massacres has drawn criticism.
- **[Governor Caleb Mutfwang](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caleb_Mutfwang)** – the Plateau governor who has condemned the killings and urged the military to treat the violence as a threat to national sovereignty.
Why has the federal response been deemed inadequate?
Critics argue that the federal government’s reliance on condolence statements rather than direct visits to massacre sites sends a message that perpetrators can operate with impunity. The lack of a presidential presence in devastated villages is perceived as a failure to acknowledge the gravity of the loss and to reassure affected communities of state protection.
What reforms are being proposed to curb the violence?
The constitutional amendment that would establish state police has already secured approval from more than 24 state assemblies. The forthcoming National Policing Bill, currently being finalised, aims to create locally recruited forces that could improve intelligence gathering and rapid response in remote areas where federal structures have repeatedly faltered. While not a panacea, proponents contend that state police, if properly overseen, could reduce the reliance on distant federal units.
How can communities contribute to a lasting solution?
Local residents are urged to unite across religious, ethnic and professional lines—churches, mosques, traditional councils, youth groups and women’s organisations—to demand security without resorting to reprisals or ethnic profiling. Targeting innocent Fulani civilians, or any other group, would only deepen divisions and undermine prospects for peaceful coexistence.
The tragedy in Shurum is more than a single incident; it epitomises a systemic failure that has allowed mass graves to become a grim feature of everyday life in parts of Nigeria. The image of a grieving cleric inside a grave should compel both state and federal authorities to move beyond statements of outrage and implement concrete security measures, including the swift enactment of the state police framework and transparent prosecution of perpetrators.
**What must happen next?**
President Tinubu must prioritise the security emergency by accelerating the passage of the National Policing Bill, ensuring that state police are equipped with robust safeguards against abuse. Governor Mutfwang should leverage his political influence to demand measurable outcomes—enhanced community intelligence, rapid‑response units, and public reporting of arrests. Only through coordinated action at federal, state and community levels can the cycle of violence be broken.
The tears shed by Reverend Dachomo are a stark reminder that every delayed response costs lives. Nigeria cannot afford to treat mass burials as a routine occurrence; decisive, compassionate leadership is required to restore safety and confidence across the nation.