Muslim Community denies Dachomo’s claim of converting burnt church to mosque

Mangu Concerned Muslim Consultative Forum (MCMCE) in Mangu local government area of Plateau state has refuted a claim credited to Reverend Ezekiel Dachomo, Regional Chairman of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN), that a church burnt in the area has been converted to a mosque.

The community described the allegation as baseless and inflammatory, challenging the Cleric to provide evidence to justify his claim.

According to the group, Reverend Ezekiel Dachomo was quoted on December 1, 2025, by Phoenix online platform as stating in a recent interview with Channels TV that one of his churches in Mangu was attacked and converted into a mosque.

Responding, the chairman and secretary of the Forum, Sheik Suleiman Haruna and MA Lawal, said there was no evidence to back the claim.

In a statement issued to journalists in Jos, the forum said “the claim was deliberately crafted to portray Muslims as aggressors and usurpers of Christian property, incite hatred, and undermine ongoing peace efforts in the area.

“The MCMCF rejects this dangerous narrative in its entirety and demands immediate proof or public retraction. Until tangible evidence is presented, Reverend Dachomo’s claim remains nothing more than malicious disinformation.

“The Forum demands Dachomo to immediately provide the official name of the purportedly converted church, the exact location of the building, and the specific date or period when the alleged conversion took place,” the statement added.

The Forum instead noted that Muslims behaved responsibly during the unrest, safeguarding Christian properties, including the COCIN church in Sabon Kasuwa, that remained intact in Muslim neighbourhoods, even in the absence of official security.

“In stark contrast, mosques destroyed during the crisis, including those in Mangu Daawo and other places, have been turned into refuse dumps and open defecation sites,” it said.

The Forum stressed that it would no longer tolerate what it described as attempts to slander the Muslim community in Mangu LGA, while calling on Reverend Dachomo to either present evidence substantiating his allegation or publicly retract the statement and offer an unconditional apology.

“Facts must precede fear. Peace must prevail over provocation. Failure to provide basic facts on the same platform where the allegation was circulated will confirm that the claim is baseless.”

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