Plateau Tensions: Muslim Forum Denies Church-to-Mosque Conversion, Demands Proof from COCIN Leader

An allegation of a seized church building in Mangu has sparked a fierce denial and a challenge for evidence, threatening fragile peace efforts in Nigeria’s Plateau State.

Allegation and Swift Denial

A public claim by a prominent Christian leader in Nigeria’s conflict-prone Plateau State has been met with a forceful and detailed rebuttal from the local Muslim community, raising fears of renewed intercommunal friction. Reverend Ezekiel Dachomo, the Regional Chairman of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN), stated in a television interview that Muslims in Mangu Local Government Area had converted a COCIN church building into a mosque following recent violence.

The Mangu Concerned Muslim Consultative Forum (MCMCF) has categorically denied the allegation, labeling it as “false, provocative, and completely unsubstantiated.” In a statement, the Forum’s chairman, Sheikh Suleiman Haruna, accused Rev. Dachomo of spreading “inflammatory, reckless” disinformation designed to malign Muslims and incite fear.

A Direct Challenge for Evidence

Moving beyond a simple denial, the Muslim Forum issued a direct public challenge to the COCIN chairman. It demanded he provide verifiable proof to support his serious claim, which carries significant weight in a region with a long history of sectarian violence tied to land and religious identity.

“The MCMCF rejects this narrative in its entirety and demands immediate proof or a public retraction,” the statement read. The Forum challenged Rev. Dachomo to publish the official name of the church, its exact location, and the date of the alleged conversion. “Failure to provide these basic facts… will confirm that the claim is baseless,” the statement concluded.

Counter-Allegations and the Broader Context

In its response, the Forum presented a counter-narrative of Muslim restraint and Christian aggression. Sheikh Haruna claimed that Muslims in Mangu had protected Christian properties, citing the example of a COCIN church in Sabon Kasuwa that remained intact within a Muslim neighborhood.

Conversely, he accused Mwaghavul Christian militias of desecrating destroyed mosques, alleging that several Islamic places of worship had been turned into refuse dumps and open defecation sites. These acts, he said, represented a “deliberate and continuing desecration” of sacred spaces. This exchange highlights the deep-seated grievances and competing victimhood narratives that complicate reconciliation in Plateau State.

Analysis: The High Stakes of Rhetoric in a Fragile Peace

This incident is not merely a war of words but a potential flashpoint. Analysts note that in post-conflict settings like Plateau, public accusations from trusted community leaders can quickly reignite tensions on the ground. The Muslim Forum’s statement explicitly warns that such “provocative rhetoric” maligning their community will no longer be tolerated.

The demand for evidence shifts the burden of proof and raises the political cost of making unverified claims. It reflects a strategic move by the Muslim community to combat what they see as a damaging narrative that paints them as perpetual aggressors. The situation now hinges on whether Rev. Dachomo will provide substantiating details, retract his statement, or remain silent—each outcome carrying different implications for interfaith relations.

The Path Forward: Accountability and De-escalation

The Forum’s final call—“Facts must precede fear. Peace must prevail over provocation”—encapsulates the central dilemma. Sustainable peace in Plateau requires accountable leadership and a commitment to verifiable truth over inflammatory allegation. Community leaders, civil society, and government peacebuilding agencies now face the urgent task of mediating this dispute, ensuring it is resolved through dialogue and evidence rather than escalating into further mistrust or violence.

The outcome will serve as a critical test of the conflict-resolution mechanisms in Plateau State and the maturity of its religious leadership in prioritizing communal harmony over sectarian point-scoring.

Source: This report is based on the primary source article from Daily Nigerian: “Rev. Dachomo Lied, No COCIN Church Was Converted into Mosque in Plateau — Mangu Muslims”.