The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has declared a three-day national mourning period in response to the worsening wave of killings, kidnappings, banditry and violent attacks across the country, as concerns continue to grow over the deteriorating security situation in several states. The nationwide mourning exercise, scheduled to hold from June 12 to June 14, is intended to honour the victims of violence and express solidarity with families and communities that have suffered devastating losses.
The announcement was made by CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, at the end of the National Church Denominational Leaders Summit held in Abuja. The gathering brought together prominent church leaders and delegates from across the country to deliberate on the state of the nation and discuss possible solutions to Nigeria’s mounting challenges. According to the communiqué issued after the meeting, participants expressed deep concern over the increasing rate of insecurity and the devastating impact it continues to have on ordinary Nigerians.
As part of the mourning activities, CAN designated June 14 as “Black Sunday,” urging churches nationwide to observe the day in remembrance of victims who have lost their lives to terrorism, banditry, kidnappings and other violent crimes. The association said the symbolic gesture is aimed at drawing national attention to the suffering of affected families while reinforcing the need for urgent action to halt the bloodshed across the country. ..READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE .
Archbishop Okoh lamented the continued attacks on communities, abductions of citizens from homes and highways, destruction of livelihoods and displacement of thousands of people. He noted that many innocent Nigerians, including women and children, have been killed, injured or forced to flee their communities due to the activities of criminal and terrorist groups. According to him, the scale of the crisis demands more decisive and result-oriented responses from government authorities.
The Christian body called on the Federal Government to treat the security situation as a national emergency and take stronger measures to protect lives and property. CAN also advocated a comprehensive review of Nigeria’s security architecture, improved intelligence gathering, stronger cooperation among security agencies and greater accountability from those responsible for safeguarding the country.
In addition, the association reiterated its support for the establishment of state police, arguing that decentralised policing could help improve local security responses and strengthen efforts to combat crime at the grassroots level. The group further demanded the unconditional release of all abducted citizens, including schoolchildren and teachers currently being held captive by criminal groups.
Beyond security concerns, CAN called for the creation of comprehensive rehabilitation, compensation and resettlement programmes for victims of terrorism and violence. The association urged churches across the country to intensify humanitarian support, trauma counselling and peace-building initiatives for displaced persons and communities affected by insecurity.
The organisation also expressed concern that political activities and early electioneering campaigns appear to be overshadowing critical national issues, particularly security. It urged political leaders, civil society groups, labour unions and traditional institutions to focus on addressing the challenges confronting citizens and to hold public office holders accountable for delivering meaningful solutions.
The declaration of a national mourning period by CAN highlights the growing frustration among Nigerians over the persistent insecurity affecting many parts of the country. As the nation prepares to observe the three-day period of reflection and prayer, the association says it hopes the initiative will inspire greater urgency, unity and commitment toward ending the violence and restoring peace to communities across Nigeria.
