Enough Is Enough,” Pastor Adefarasin Condemns Benue Massacre, Demands Urgent Justice

A pall of grief hangs over Guma Local Government Area after the June 13 massacre in Yelewata village, where at least 100 people were brutally slaughtered, many locked in their homes and burned alive. Senior Pastor Paul Adefarasin of House on the Rock Church slammed the attack as “heartbreaking and unacceptable,” demanding immediate national introspection and action.

Adefarasin vividly described the carnage: “Families were locked in their homes and burnt alive. Children woke up to silence. Mothers are still searching for sons.” Official figures remain unclear, but sources confirm more than 100 dead, dozens missing, and countless injured without adequate medical care.

He warned that a nation that shrugs at injustice risks being consumed by it. “When one part of our nation bleeds, the whole must feel it. Enough is enough,” he stated—urging citizens and leaders to upend apathy and demand justice that’s tangible, not merely ceremonial .

These killings reflect a tragic recurring pattern. Last month, coordinated attacks across Benue claimed over 23 lives in Guma and Logo LGAs. In April, suspected herdsmen massacred 56 people in another violent spree. The January–June 2025 violence has displaced over 1.5 million people across Benue due to conflict over land and water rights.

The Catholic Bishops Conference has echoed Adefarasin’s cry, calling the attacks “an affront to God and a stain on our humanity,” and urging the federal and state governments to go beyond rhetoric to arrest, prosecute, and protect civilians. Meanwhile, the Campaign Against Pastoral Practices in Africa (CAPPA) urged a victims’ compensation fund, trauma counselling, and community peace councils to tackle root causes and prevent reprisals.

Adefarasin’s call for justice strikes a chord amid rising frustration over weak institutions and emboldened militias. With Yelewata under siege and neighboring Daudu also attacked—residents overwhelmed security personnel before reinforcements arrived—many now ask whether Nigerian authorities can guarantee even basic protection.

With anguish swelling and unity fraying, Adefarasin urges immediate, decisive action—visible arrests, sincere pallbearers of peace, and leaders who feel the nation’s pain. As he implores, “Your lives matter,” the question rings loud: will Nigeria answer?