Pastor Paul Enenche, founder of Dunamis International Gospel Centre (DIGC), says the killings in Benue state resemble a “genocidal pogrom” and reflect a collapse of compassionate leadership in Nigeria.
Speaking during a condolence visit to the state, Enenche said he witnessed firsthand the devastation, grief, and deep sorrow left in the wake of recent attacks that claimed the lives of over 200 people.
His words: “We are on a mission to Benue state in the wake of the very horrific, and almost like a genocidal pogrom in the land that resulted in the death and burning of so many people alive.
“We see the climate of doom, the climate of death, the climate of darkness, the grief, the pain, and the hurt in the land and in the nation, particularly.”
He said the visit was to stand in solidarity with the people and affirm that “light will never bow for darkness and darkness will never triumph over light.”
Enenche blamed the country’s leadership for the worsening state of insecurity, insisting that political will and compassion are urgently needed to address the crisis.
He said: “The solution to this type of issue is the will in the heart of the leadership of our nation, both at the federal and state levels, to have authorities and leadership that have the will to do the right thing.
“Leadership that has the heart for the people, to put anything political aside and look at realities and to say: this is the real situation on the ground.”
He called on leaders to “value human lives above every other consideration” and act in the interest of conscience and accountability before God.
“We want to trust God for national leadership that has a heart for people; national leadership that is not in position because they want the position or because they want a name; national leadership that has compassion,” Enenche said.
He urged collective repentance, asking God for forgiveness “for whatever we did that has made us consistently have people that have no heart for the people”.
The cleric criticized lawmakers at all levels for failing to pass meaningful legislation to prevent such attacks.
His words: “What is the use of lawmakers sitting to administer over territories and nations that produce no results?
“What is the use of sitting and making laws that are irrelevant or making no laws at all? Let nobody think that they will be where they are forever because a time will come that they will be out of office.”
He said the time for decisive leadership is now, warning that “everybody in one position or the other will come down one day and will face this reality if it is not tackled today”.
Describing Nigeria as a nation where there is “almost zero heart for the feelings and aspirations of the people”, Enenche called on citizens to also rise and demand justice.
“Enough is enough, we will take our destiny in our hands; wherever possible,” he said.
He called for communities to adopt self-defence mechanisms where necessary, saying the current situation demands urgent local action.
He said: “We cannot watch ourselves wasted like this, we cannot watch our communities wasted like this.
“Whatever we need to do, we will do it by ourselves, to ensure that we secure our territories.”
He said the battle is no longer about comfort, but about survival.
The article was originally published on Politics Nigeria.
