Insecurity: CAN declares three days of national mourning and designates June 14 as “Black Sunday”

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has declared a three-day period of national mourning from June 12 to 14 to honor the victims of violent attacks, mass kidnappings and banditry across the country.

​The apex Christian body has also designated June 14 as “Black Sunday” across all Churches in a sign of solidarity with families affected by the persistent security crisis.

The president of CAN, Msgr. Daniel Okoh, made the announcement on Tuesday in Abuja while reading a statement released at the end of the summit of denominational leaders of the National Church.

The summit, held at the National Christian Center and titled “The State of the Nation and the Way Forward,” brought together top church leaders, bloc leaders and delegates to prayerfully consider the country’s challenges.

​Okoh expressed deep concern over the rising tide of violence, citing recent incidents of killings, kidnappings and community destruction in states such as Oyo, Ogun, Borno, Kwara and Kogi.

​He urged the federal government to immediately declare a state of national security emergency to stop the ongoing bloodshed.

​”Communities are under attack; citizens are being kidnapped from their homes and places of work, travelers are being kidnapped on highways, and farmers are being driven off their land.

“Innocent men, women and children are being killed, maimed, displaced and, in some cases, brutally beheaded by criminal and terrorist elements,” Okoh said.

​The CAN president criticized the “recurring resort to conciliatory and pacifist rhetoric by senior government officials” in response to serious security threats, calling instead for a proactive and results-oriented approach.

​He reminded the government that the primary responsibility of any administration remains the protection of lives and property.

​As a result, the Cleric called for a complete overhaul of the nation’s security architecture, improved intelligence gathering, stronger interagency cooperation, and greater operational accountability.

He also supported the decentralization of security operations, calling for the immediate acceleration of the constitutional and legislative processes for the establishment of the state police.

​The CAN President also called for the immediate and unconditional release of all schoolchildren, teachers and other citizens abducted and currently held captive by criminal elements.

​On the humanitarian front, Okoh called for the establishment of a comprehensive compensation, rehabilitation and resettlement program for victims of terrorism and families who have lost their livelihoods or loved ones.

He also tasked individual Churches in the federation to strengthen domestic support systems by providing humanitarian assistance, trauma care and peacebuilding initiatives for displaced people in their localities.

​Okoh lamented that premature election campaigns, political calculations and party defections were taking over among the political class while many communities remained under siege.

He advised political leaders and parties to avoid divisive distractions and prioritize national security.

​The cleric called on organized working groups, civil society organizations and traditional institutions to collaborate to hold the government accountable.

Okoh reaffirmed the Church’s commitment to national unity, peace and justice.

He stressed that although prayers will be intensified, they must be accompanied by civic engagement and continued support.