A senior cleric in Plateau State has accused the Nigerian government of undermining national security by integrating repentant Boko Haram members into security structures in the North. Rev Ezekiel Dachomo, Regional Leader of the Church of Christ in Nations, said the decision has “polluted” the system and worsened insecurity in vulnerable communities.
Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, the cleric said insurgents who claim to have surrendered still maintain ties with their former networks and now provide sensitive information that endangers civilians. He linked this to continued attacks on Christian communities in northern Nigeria, which he described as “systemic and targeted.”
Rev Dachomo alleged that some former Boko Haram fighters now embedded within security units act as informants for their counterparts hiding in the bush. He argued that this has made it harder for affected communities to trust the state’s ability to protect them.
He criticised what he sees as double standards in the enforcement of laws involving farmer–herder clashes, saying communities were being unfairly punished for actions taken in self-defence. The cleric warned that local residents were becoming increasingly frustrated by what they perceive as government inaction.
According to him, some communities are considering defensive measures, including chemically treating their farmlands, and are prepared to face the consequences if cattle die as a result. He claimed such actions stem from a sense of abandonment and a desire to prevent repeated attacks.
Rev Dachomo also made a controversial suggestion that withdrawing the Nigerian Army from certain crisis zones could lead to more stability, arguing that local groups would be able to secure themselves more effectively. He said peace efforts were being “suffocated by compromised security structures.”
The cleric urged the Federal Government to urgently review its deradicalisation policies and restore public confidence by ensuring that those involved in past atrocities are not placed in positions where they can influence or compromise national security.
