CAN Declares June 14 Black Sunday, Announces 3-Day National Mourning Over Insecurity

THE Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has declared a three-day national mourning period from June 12, and designated June 14 as a nationwide Black Sunday in response to the detriorating security situation across the country.
The decision was reached at the National Church Denominational Leaders Summit held in Abuja, where Christian leaders expressed deep concern over the rising wave of killings, kidnappings, terrorist attacks and displacement of communities in various parts of Nigeria.
Announcing the resolutions of the summit, CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, said church leaders were alarmed by the deteriorating security situation and called on the Federal Government to take urgent and decisive action to protect lives and property.
As a result, churches across the country will observe a three-day mourning period, culminating in Black Sunday, to honour victims of violence and demonstrate solidarity with affected families and communities.
CAN urged the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on security, warning that the persistent attacks on citizens and communities pose a serious threat to national stability, unity and development.
According to the communique, Christian leaders are increasingly worried about the growing number of abductions, killings and violent attacks recorded in several states, including Oyo, Ogun, Borno, Kwara and Kogi.
The Summit underscored the need for immediate and coordinated efforts to tackle insecurity, calling on security agencies to intensify operations to rescue kidnapped schoolchildren, teachers and other citizens currently being held by criminal groups.
The Christian umbrella body renewed its demand for the establishment of State Police and other decentralised security structures, arguing that localised policing would improve intelligence gathering, enhance rapid response capabilities and strengthen accountability in addressing security threats.
The Christian leaders stated that citizens should be allowed to protect themselves within the limits of the law, especially dur to the seeming inability of existing security arrangements to adequately safeguard lives and property, even as they urged a comprehensive review of Nigeria’s security architecture, improved collaboration among security agencies and stronger operational strategies to combat terrorism, banditry and other violent crimes.
The Summit criticised what it described as the inadequate response of government authorities to recurring security challenges, expressing concern that political activities and early electioneering appear to be receiving more attention, while many communities continue to face attacks.
CAN charged labour unions, professional bodies, civil society organisations and traditional institutions to join efforts at holding government accountable and ensuring a sustained commitment to protecting citizens across the country, pledging to remain united in prayer, advocacy and constructive engagement, while working towards peace, justice, security and national renewal in the country.