Senior Pastor of House on the Rock Church, Paul Adefarasin, has joined the growing chorus of voices condemning the recent mass killings in Benue State, describing the tragedy as both "heartbreaking and unacceptable."
The cleric expressed deep grief over the senseless loss of lives following the gruesome attack in Yelewata village, Guma Local Government Area, where over 200 persons were reportedly killed on June 13th. In a strongly-worded statement, Adefarasin called for urgent national introspection and decisive action.
"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. Families were locked in their homes and burnt alive. Children woke up to silence. Mothers are still searching for sons," Adefarasin stated.
The pastor highlighted the scale of the tragedy: "At least 100 Nigerians were killed. Dozens are missing. And many are suffering without access to medical care."
Call for National Action
In his statement, Adefarasin emphasized that the violence contradicts Nigeria's national identity and values. "This is not who we are meant to be. A nation that shrugs at such injustice risks being consumed by it," he warned.
Addressing the victims directly, he said: "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."
The religious leader also had a message for Nigeria's leadership: "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."
Adefarasin's statement comes amid widespread outrage and mourning across the country following renewed violence in Benue, which has seen communities devastated by what many describe as coordinated attacks.
The incident has sparked reactions from other prominent figures, including former presidential candidate Peter Obi, who criticized President Tinubu for not visiting Benue amid the killings. Meanwhile, Benue State Governor Alia has reportedly blamed some villagers for allegedly showing attackers the way into communities.
Nigerian musician 2Face Idibia has also spoken out, describing the Benue killings as a national emergency and expressing that his "heart is heavy" over the situation.
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