Insecurity: CAN declares national mourning, demands emergency

The Christian Association of Nigeria has declared a three-day national mourning period beginning June 12 over the worsening security situation in the country and called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on security across Nigeria. The decision was part of resolutions reached at the National Church Denominational Leaders Summit 2026 held on Tuesday in Abuja under the theme, “The State of the Nation and the Way Forward.” In a communiqué issued at the end of the summit, the body announced that Friday, June 12, 2026, would mark the commencement of a three-day period of national mourning ending on Sunday, June 14, 2026. “CAN declares Friday, June 12, 2026, as the commencement of a three-day period of national mourning, to continue through Sunday, June 14, 2026. “CAN further designates Sunday, June 14, 2026, as ‘Black Sunday’ across churches in Nigeria in honour of victims of violence and in solidarity with families affected by insecurity,” the communique stated. The church leaders expressed deep concern over escalating violence, kidnappings, terrorist attacks and the destruction of communities across the country. “CAN expresses profound alarm over the escalating violence across Nigeria, including killings, kidnappings, abductions, terrorist attacks and the destruction of communities. “CAN condemns in the strongest terms the barbaric acts of murder, beheading, torture, rape, abduction and forced displacement being perpetrated against innocent citizens, and calls on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on security across the country,” the communiqué stated. The association reminded the Federal Government that the protection of lives and property remains its foremost constitutional responsibility and demanded urgent, decisive and measurable action to end the bloodshed and restore public confidence. CAN also called for a comprehensive review of the nation’s security architecture, improved intelligence gathering, stronger inter-agency cooperation and enhanced operational effectiveness in the fight against terrorism, banditry and violent crime. “CAN notes with concern the apparent inadequacy of intelligence gathering and coordination mechanisms and criticises recurring resort to conciliatory and pacifist rhetoric by senior government officials in response to grave security threats. “CAN urges a more decisive, proactive and results-oriented approach to national security,” it added. Related News Police recover kidnap victims’ bodies in Edo forest, arrest suspect Expecting 84-year-old Adeboye to lead protests makes no sense –