The Christian community in Nigeria has strongly condemned the brutal killing of over 200 people in Benue State. Speaking on behalf of the Christian Church in Nigeria, Professor Prince Ebitimi Weigha, Chairman of THINKING HAT — an associate of Christian Soul-Winners Worldwide — described the killings as a grave injustice and a violation of the sanctity of human life.
Professor Weigha, a theologian and respected Christian leader, expressed the deep concern of the Church regarding the violence. He emphasized that the victims were not just statistics, but Nigerians and human beings with a right to life. “Nobody is empowered by God to take the life of another,” he said.
In a condolence message to the affected communities in Yelwata, Guma Local Government Area of the state, Professor Weigha described the massacre as a form of genocide, religious cleansing, and land grabbing, rather than a mere misunderstanding between herders and farmers. He called on President Bola Tinubu to take decisive action by banning open or public grazing nationwide and replacing it with a ranching system.
Supporting this call, Dr. Dayo Adeyoju, Director of Orientation and Advocacy at THINKING HAT, stressed the need for the establishment of state police in Nigeria. He argued that state policing would curb insecurity, genocidal attacks, and the activities of violent criminal groups. “Nigeria has become a fertile ground for all kinds of criminal groups and activities,” he warned.
Professor Kunle Macaulay, founder of Christian Soul-Winners Worldwide, also weighed in on the crisis, noting that Benue State has suffered recurrent violence, often involving nomadic cattle herders and farming communities clashing over land and resources. He urged the federal government to acknowledge the suffering of the victims and take meaningful steps to protect lives and property.
“I call for justice for the dead,” Macaulay stated firmly. “Those who committed this heinous crime must be arrested and brought to book.”
He further encouraged Christians across the country to remain steadfast in prayer for national peace and to extend love to all. “Jesus does not discriminate, neither does he hate,” Macaulay said. “Christians must show love to all people.”
