CAN calls for state of emergency on security, declares June 14 national mourning day

From Fred Ezeh, Abuja

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has warned that Nigeria’s peace, security and national stability are under severe threat owing to escalating violence, kidnappings, killings and widespread insecurity across the country.

The umbrella Christian body, therefore, declared Sunday, June 14, as a national mourning day tagged “Black Sunday” to honour victims of violence and show solidarity with families affected by insecurity nationwide.

The position was contained in a communiqué issued on Tuesday at the end of the National Church Denominational Leaders Summit 2026 held in Abuja under the theme: “The State of the Nation and the Way Forward.”

CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, who read the communique said the summit was convened against the backdrop of worsening insecurity, economic hardship, declining confidence in public institutions, social fragmentation and increasing threats to the lives and dignity of Nigerians.

He confirmed that the summit, attended by leaders of major Christian blocs and denominations, including the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN), Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN), Christian Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Organisation of African Instituted Churches (OIAC), TEKAN/ECWA and other stakeholders, expressed grave concern over what it described as an unprecedented wave of violence across the country.

According to the CAN President, communities are under sustained attacks, citizens are being kidnapped from homes and workplaces, travellers abducted on highways, while farmers are displaced from their farmlands by criminal and terrorist groups.

The leader of the Christian body also lamented increasing attacks on churches, schools and vulnerable communities, alongside what it described as the apparent inability of existing security arrangements to adequately protect citizens.

Archbishop Okoh, alongside other participants at the summit cited recent incidents of killings, abductions and attacks in Oyo, Ogun, Borno, Kwara, Kogi and other states, with particular concern over the abduction of school children and teachers, attacks on farming communities and continued terrorist activities in parts of the North-East.

He warned that the continued assault on human life, freedom and dignity poses a serious danger to national unity, development and democratic stability.

He called on the Federal Government to immediately declare a state of emergency on security across the country and reminded authorities that protection of lives and property remains the government’s foremost constitutional responsibility.

CAN, thus demanded urgent, measurable and decisive action to halt bloodshed and restore public confidence, and also called for a comprehensive overhaul of the nation’s security architecture, including improved intelligence gathering, stronger inter-agency collaboration, enhanced operational effectiveness and greater accountability in the fight against terrorism, banditry and violent crime.

The Christian body also renewed calls for the immediate establishment of state police and other lawful decentralised security structures to strengthen intelligence gathering, local accountability and rapid response mechanisms.

On victims of insecurity, CAN demanded the unconditional release of all abducted schoolchildren, teachers and other Nigerians currently in captivity, urging security agencies to intensify rescue operations until every victim regains freedom.

It further called for a comprehensive compensation, rehabilitation and resettlement programme for victims of terrorism, kidnapping and violent attacks, including support for families of deceased victims, injured persons and communities whose homes, schools, churches and livelihoods have been destroyed.

CAN announced that a three-day period of national mourning would commence on Friday, June 12, and run through Sunday, June 14, 2026, with churches across Nigeria expected to observe Black Sunday in memory of victims of violence.

The association also criticised what it described as growing political distractions, defections and premature electioneering at a time many communities remain under siege, thus urging political leaders to suspend divisive political activities and focus attention on restoring security and rebuilding public confidence.

CAN appealed to organised labour, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), student groups, traditional institutions, civil society organisations and professional bodies to join efforts aimed at holding government accountable and sustaining national commitment to protecting lives and property.

It reaffirmed the Church’s commitment to unity, justice, peace and constructive engagement, while urging Nigerians, irrespective of religion, ethnicity or political affiliation, to unite against the growing security crisis confronting the nation.