Apostle Johnson Suleman, general overseer of the Omega Fire Ministries International, has told President Bola Tinubu to allow Nigerians to defend themselves against rampaging terrorists.

“People of Benue, defend yourself,” said Mr Suleman on Monday via X.

The televangelist urged Mr Tinubu to admit that his government and security architecture are overwhelmed humbly.

“If the federal govt knows it’s overwhelmed or its security architecture has failed, they should be humble enough to tell the citizens. Self-defence is enshrined in the Constitution,” Mr Suleman said. “I said it when I went to Jos and Benue. We can’t watch this continue.”

Insisting that the people of Benue should defend themselves against the terrorists, Mr Suleman described the bloodshed in the state as “evil, barbaric and mayhem.”

Mr Suleman also condemned political actors for already swinging into 2027 campaign mode while terrorists, in 2025, continue their unchallenged deadly rampage on citizens they were elected to protect.

“It’s ridiculous that people are thinking of 2027 whilst mayhem is being unleashed in 2025 on citizens they are supposed to govern. What happened to your humanity? There was a country,” the controversial cleric stated.

His admonition came on the invasion of Yelewata and Dauda communities of Guma LGAs on Saturday in Benue by suspected armed herdsmen who killed about 200 people, including five security operatives, IDPs, women and children.

However, the president, in a post on X on Monday, blamed inflammatory utterances by political and community leaders in Benue for the bloodshed.