Insecurity: CAN declares three-day national mourning

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has declared a three-day national mourning period from June 12 to June 14 over the worsening insecurity across the country and designated June 14 as “Black Sunday” in honour of victims of violent attacks, kidnappings and banditry.

The decision was announced on Tuesday in Abuja by Archbishop Daniel Okoh, the president of CAN while presenting a communiqué issued at the end of the national church denominational leaders’ summit held at the national christian centre.

The summit, themed “The State of the Nation and the Way Forward,” brought together church leaders and delegates from across the country to review the nation’s security and socio-political challenges.

Okoh said the mourning period was intended to honour those killed in violent attacks and demonstrate solidarity with families affected by the persistent security crisis.

Expressing concern over the escalating wave of killings, abductions and destruction of communities in several parts of the country, including Oyo, Ogun, Borno, Kwara and Kogi states, the CAN president called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on national security.

“Communities are under attack; citizens are kidnapped from their homes and places of work, travellers are abducted on highways, and farmers are driven from their lands,” he said.

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

Okoh criticised what he described as the repeated reliance on conciliatory rhetoric by government officials in responding to security threats, insisting that decisive and result-oriented measures were needed to address the crisis.

He stressed that the foremost responsibility of government is the protection of lives and property and urged authorities to undertake a comprehensive review of the country’s security architecture.

According to him, such reforms should include improved intelligence gathering, stronger collaboration among security agencies and enhanced operational accountability.

The cleric also renewed calls for the establishment of state police, urging lawmakers and relevant authorities to fast-track constitutional and legislative processes to decentralise policing.

CAN further demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all schoolchildren, teachers and other Nigerians currently being held by kidnappers and criminal groups.

On humanitarian intervention, Okoh called for a comprehensive compensation, rehabilitation and resettlement programme for victims of terrorism and families who have lost loved ones or livelihoods as a result of insecurity.

He also urged churches nationwide to strengthen support systems by providing humanitarian assistance, trauma counselling and peace-building initiatives for displaced persons and affected communities.

The CAN president lamented that political activities ahead of the 2027 elections were beginning to dominate national discourse while many communities remained under siege from criminal elements.

He advised political leaders and parties to focus on addressing the country’s security challenges rather than engaging in divisive politics and premature electioneering.

Okoh also called on organised labour, civil society organisations and traditional institutions to work together in holding government accountable for securing the nation.

While reaffirming the church’s commitment to national unity, peace and justice, he said prayers alone would not be enough, stressing the need for sustained civic engagement and advocacy to address the country’s challenges.