“Enough Is Enough”: Sultan of Sokoto Condemns Benue Killings, Calls for National Unity Against Violence

  The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), His Eminence Muhammad Sa’ad Abubak...

 

The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), His Eminence Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has issued a powerful condemnation of the ongoing violence in Benue State, declaring unequivocally that “enough is enough.”

Reacting to the recent wave of deadly attacks—most notably the massacre in Yelewata, Guma Local Government Area, on June 14 that claimed over 300 lives—the Sultan decried the killings as senseless and unacceptable, regardless of ethnicity, religion, or political affiliation.

In a statement released through the Secretary-General of Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), Professor Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, the Sultan criticized the apparent failure of security agencies to foresee and prevent the deadly assault. The statement, titled “Time to Rise Beyond Lamentations as Benue Bleeds Again,” called on Nigerians and authorities to act decisively in the face of such horrifying violence.

“Enough is enough. Our collective silence or indifference may only serve to embolden the enemies of peace and national unity in Nigeria,” the statement warned.

The JNI extended deep condolences to the government and people of Benue State, urging the nation to treat the crisis not merely as a regional tragedy but as a national call to conscience. The Sultan emphasized that the loss of human lives must never become normal or acceptable in any society, and called for renewed respect for the sanctity of life.

“We must reject divisive rhetoric and stand united in humanity to say ‘No More’ to bloodshed,” the statement added. “Human life is sacred and must always be treated with dignity, as we have consistently emphasized.”

JNI also prayed for Almighty Allah’s comfort upon the families of the victims and for the restoration of peace across Benue and the nation at large.

The Sultan's voice adds to the growing chorus of national leaders and organizations demanding action, justice, and enduring peace amid the escalating violence in Nigeria’s North Central region.