Outspoken Plateau State clergyman, Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo, has raised concerns over what he describes as a coordinated attempt to silence his voice after both his Facebook and Instagram accounts were taken down within a short period. The cleric, known for his strong views on insecurity in Plateau State, said the shutdowns began shortly after he reportedly received warnings and threats from individuals claiming to be loyalists of President Bola Tinubu.
Rev. Dachomo announced over the weekend that his Facebook page, which had amassed more than 500,000 followers, was suddenly deleted. According to him, the shutdown occurred soon after he made public remarks alleging targeted attacks on Christians in Plateau State. He described the deletion as suspicious, saying it came at a time when he was facing increased online hostility.
Following the loss of the Facebook account, the cleric said he moved to Instagram. The new account, set up with the help of American podcaster Ryan Miller, quickly gained traction and gathered more than 4,500 followers in its first 24 hours. Supporters viewed the rapid growth as a sign that Dachomo’s message continued to resonate with a large audience despite the setback.
However, the situation became more complicated when numerous fake Facebook accounts began to appear. Several pages were created using his name, photographs, and variations such as “Pastor Ezekiel Dachomo,” “The Real Dachomo,” and “Ezekiel Dachimo.” Some of the accounts also used images of his family members, raising concerns about impersonation and possible fraud.
On Monday, Rev. Dachomo publicly disclaimed all the newly created Facebook pages, stressing that he currently has no active Facebook account. He warned his followers not to communicate with any of the pages using his identity, describing them as attempts to deceive the public. He added that Facebook had notified his team that steps were being taken to verify and restore his original account.
In a video shared by journalist Masara Kim Usman, the cleric expressed his frustration, alleging that the impersonator accounts were run by individuals seeking either financial gain or an opportunity to suppress discussions about insecurity in the region. He claimed that coordinated mass reporting of his page could have contributed to its takedown, and he linked the issue to broader attempts to undermine his advocacy.
He also cautioned that online fraud remains a major concern in Nigeria, noting that scammers frequently exploit the names and images of public figures to mislead unsuspecting citizens.
Hours after his video statement, Usman reported that the newly created Instagram page had also been shut down. The unexpected disappearance of the second account added another layer to the unfolding situation, sparking discussions among supporters about the possible reasons behind the repeated shutdowns.
As of the time of filing this report, it remains unclear whether the account closures were due to violations of platform policies, coordinated reporting, or other factors. Efforts to restore the accounts were ongoing, and neither Facebook nor Instagram had publicly commented on the matter.
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