Senior Pastor of House on the Rock Church, Paul Adefarasin, has condemned the recent killings in Benue State, describing the incident as both heartbreaking and unacceptable.
Adefarasin reacted in a statement following the gruesome attack on Yelewata village in Guma Local Government Area, where over 100 persons were reportedly killed by suspected herdsmen on the night of June 13.
“There’s a grief that lingers when lives are taken so senselessly. What happened in Yelewata village, Guma LGA, Benue State on the night of June 13th is both tragic and devastating,” he wrote.
“Families were locked in their homes and burnt alive. Children woke up to silence. Mothers are still searching for sons. At least 100 Nigerians were killed. Dozens are missing. And many are suffering without access to medical care.
“This is not who we are meant to be. A nation that shrugs at such injustice risks being consumed by it. To the people of Benue, your pain matters.
“Your lives matter. We pray for healing, for restoration, and for deep, true justice, not in mere words, but in palpable action. And to our leaders, our custodians, and our conscience as a people: this is not the time to look away. When one part of our nation bleeds, the whole must feel it. Enough is enough.”
The killings, which took place in the early hours of Saturday, have drawn national and international outrage. Amnesty International confirmed that at least 100 people were killed, with many burnt beyond recognition and dozens still missing.
Although the Benue State Government put the death toll at 45, residents and local leaders insist that the number is much higher. Reports also revealed that families were attacked while asleep and their homes set ablaze.
Pope Leo XIV also spoke about the tragedy during his weekly address at the Vatican, calling it a “terrible massacre” and praying for peace in Nigeria.
President Bola Tinubu described the attack as “very depressing” and directed security agencies to apprehend the perpetrators and prevent further bloodshed. He also cautioned leaders against making inflammatory comments capable of worsening the situation.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has since called on the Federal Government to declare total war on terrorist elements responsible for the repeated killings in the Middle Belt.
Benue Governor Hyacinth Alia has ordered a full investigation and deployed more security operatives to the area. The Inspector-General of Police has also dispatched a special tactical squad and detectives to track down those behind the killings.
Benue, known as the “food basket of the nation”, has been a flashpoint of violent clashes between farmers and herders, leading to hundreds of deaths and mass displacement over the past decade.
Adefarasin joins other Nigerians demanding accountability and justice for the victims, warning that silence in the face of such atrocities only enables impunity.
