Pastor Paul Enenche, founder of Dunamis International Gospel Centre (DIGC), has described the killings in Benue State as a “genocidal pogrom,” lamenting the state of insecurity and what he called a total breakdown of compassionate leadership in Nigeria.
Speaking during a condolence visit to Benue State, Enenche said he witnessed the devastation left in the aftermath of the attacks, which 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 noted that the visit was meant to stand in solidarity with the people and reaffirm hope amid despair, declaring that “light will never bow for darkness and darkness will never triumph over light.”
Pastor Enenche did not hold back in blaming Nigeria’s leadership for the worsening security situation, insisting that both federal and state governments must demonstrate the political will to bring an end to the violence.
“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,” he said.
“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 challenged leaders to place the sanctity of human life above politics, calling for accountability and conscience 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 stated.
Calling for national repentance, the cleric asked for divine forgiveness, questioning what may have led to Nigeria’s repeated emergence of leaders with no genuine concern for the people.
He also took aim at lawmakers across the country, criticizing their failure to pass meaningful legislation to prevent such tragedies.
“What is the use of lawmakers sitting to administer over territories and nations that produce no results?” he asked.
“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.”
Enenche warned that failure to act now would eventually affect everyone in positions of authority, urging leaders to confront the crisis with urgency.
“Everybody in one position or the other will come down one day and will face this reality if it is not tackled today,” he cautioned.
He further condemned the general apathy in Nigeria’s governance system, describing the country as one where there is “almost zero heart for the feelings and aspirations of the people.” Enenche then charged citizens to rise and demand justice.
“Enough is enough, we will take our destiny in our hands; wherever possible,” he declared.
In a final call to action, the pastor encouraged communities to adopt self-defence mechanisms where necessary, insisting that the scale of the crisis now demands urgent local response.
“We cannot watch ourselves wasted like this, we cannot watch our communities wasted like this,” he said.
“Whatever we need to do, we will do it by ourselves, to ensure that we secure our territories.”
He concluded by emphasizing that the current situation is no longer about comfort or convenience, but a fight for survival.
