Cleric recounts past involvement in 1980 bank robbery, claims spiritual transformation

By: Zagazola Makama

A cleric with the Church of Christ in Nations, Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo, has publicly recounted his past involvement in a bank robbery carried out in 1980 in Jos.

Dachomo, who has been described as a controversial figure, disclosed this in a recent interview with a foreign media

He said he was part of a gang that successfully carried out the operation and made away with a substantial amount of money in Plateau state. According to him, the robbery was led by a close associate at the time.

“He came to my room while I was sleeping. I didn’t know that I was operating with 14 demons until Jesus encountered me.

That night there was war. He came with seven angels. I was just an observer, seeing the drama that is being done on my life. Jesus ordered the seven angels to strike the enemy.

In fact, they were killed instantly. I took the covers of those images that were killed and I covered myself as if I’m dead. But the master Jesus said there was somebody that we have not killed.

Go, fish him out. When they were coming, booting other corpses, then I had to stand up and begin to beg. I was asking for forgiveness. Forgive me, forgive me. I will never do that again.”

He further admitted his past criminal involvement, stating: “Because I went in 1980, it was our gang that robbed a bank in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria. 1980, they made away with a lot of money. It was my best friend that led the operation.”

The cleric added that the encounter marked a turning point in his life:

“I didn’t know that I would come and encounter God and God really helped me. That day that I encountered Jesus, I went outside. I tried my best to smoke cigarette or cool it. The power of smoking was broken in my life.”

The cleric stated that his life later took a different turn following what he described as a personal spiritual encounter, which led him to abandon criminal activities and embrace a religious path. H

e added that the experience marked a decisive break from his past, including the cessation of habits such as smoking.

The public confessions by reverend Dachomo has generate mixed reactions, with some viewing them as testimonies of transformation, while others call for scrutiny and historical verification of the claims.

Sheikh Yusuf Haruna Baban Chinedu, popularly known as Baban Chinedu, accused the pastor of fabricated the stories about meeting Jesus after a 1980 bank robbery in Jos.

He is lying! I want you to listen and know that first of all, this man is a complete hypocrite and a total liar. I swear, it was a gun that shot them! Angels? He claims Jesus came down with seven angels who struck them and killed fourteen people while he hid in the blood? You see, even the angels God sent down… only managed to kill fourteen people and lost track of where that one man was?”

The sheikh alleged Dachomo hid among corpses and was rescued by a gang member named Emmanuel, not Jesus: “He was begging Jesus for God’s sake to forgive him and spare his life. He claims that was where he met Jesus… By Allah, he is lying! … It was a gun that shot them! No Jesus descended there; he is lying to you.” He added.

A lady told me; she heard him when he was shot, and he still has the scar from that wound on his left side. … He is lying! At that time, it was the police, Nigerian security agents, Nigeria Police MOPOL who she said shot them.”

Baban Chinedu accused Dachomo of transitioning from “practical, street-level bandit” to “spiritual bandit” and inciting religious conflict

Cleric recounts past involvement in 1980 bank robbery, claims spiritual transformation