Apostle Johnson Suleman, Senior Pastor of Omega Fire Ministries in Auchi, Edo State, has called on residents—especially in Benue State—to defend themselves in the face of ongoing attacks by suspected herdsmen.

 

In a strongly worded statement posted on his verified Facebook page, Suleman criticised the federal government for what he described as a collapsed security system and a lack of decisive action, particularly regarding the wave of violence in Benue and other regions.

 

“If the federal government knows it is overwhelmed or its security architecture has failed, they should be humble enough to admit it. Self-defence is enshrined in the constitution. I said it when I visited Jos and Benue—we cannot sit back and allow this to continue,” he wrote.

 

Describing the violence in Benue as “evil, barbaric and a mayhem,” Suleman urged the people to take responsibility for their own protection.

 

He also condemned political leaders who, in his view, are more preoccupied with preparing for the 2027 elections than addressing the current security crisis.

“It’s ridiculous that people are already thinking about 2027 while citizens are being slaughtered in 2025. What happened to your humanity?” he asked, referencing Chinua Achebe’s famous phrase, “There was a country.”