A Plateau State cleric, Ezekiel Dachomo, has accused Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, of allegedly influencing the deployment of United States troops away from Plateau State after recent counterterrorism operations in northern Nigeria.

Dachomo, who serves as the Barkin Ladi Regional Chairman of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN), made the allegation in a video message released on Friday.

The cleric had earlier appealed to Donald Trump to assist communities in Plateau State following a wave of attacks he attributed to Islamist extremist groups.

Following the appeal, U.S. forces reportedly carried out precision airstrikes on December 25, 2025, targeting insurgent groups including Islamic State West Africa Province and Boko Haram in Sokoto State and other northern areas.

Detachments of U.S. troops were subsequently deployed to parts of northern Nigeria to support counterterrorism efforts, but Plateau State was not included among the deployment locations.

Dachomo alleged that the decision to focus operations in other northern states was influenced by the National Security Adviser, claiming the move diverted attention from attacks in Christian-dominated communities.

“When I invited Trump to Nigeria to help us, the blueprint was that none of the American soldiers should come to Plateau State,” he said in the video message.

The cleric also claimed that communities in states such as Borno State, Kaduna State, Benue State and Kwara State continue to face attacks.

As of the time of reporting, there has been no official response from the office of the National Security Adviser regarding the allegations.