The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on Tuesday designated Sunday, June 14, 2026 as “Black Sunday” in all its member-churches in honour of victims of terrorist attacks and other forms of violence across the country.
CAN also announced a three-day national prayer programme from June 12 to June 14, 2026 for Nigeria.
CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, who spoke during the presentation of a communiqué issued at the end of the association’s National Church Denominational Leaders Summit 2026, however admitted that prayers alone would not resolve Nigeria’s worsening security challenges, insisting that urgent and practical measures are needed to address the crisis and restore safety across the nation.
Archbishop Okoh therefore called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on insecurity, describing the situation as critical and requiring immediate intervention.
The summit themed “The State of the Nation and the Way Forward” brought together top Church leaders, block leaders, and delegates to prayerfully review the country’s challenges.
Okoh clarified that the call was not a threat to the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration but a necessary reminder for the government to rise to its constitutional responsibility of defending the nation’s territorial integrity and promoting the welfare of its people.
”We are talking to a government that still has a level of responsibility, and so they will listen. We hope that when they listen, they will do the needful. It has come to that point where the government will have to declare a state of emergency on security,” Okoh said.
Responding to questions from newsmen on whether Nigerians should resort to self-defence, the CAN President noted that while self-preservation is a natural human instinct, any action taken must remain within the boundaries of the law.
”It is a natural human instinct for one to defend himself. But, what we are saying in CAN is that people and Churches should be able to defend themselves, their properties, and their homes within reasonable legal limits,” he stressed.
THe Cleric said the association would continue to deploy both media engagements and diplomatic back-channels to hold the current administration accountable.
According to him, the summit was just the initial step in a series of strategic engagements aimed at ensuring a safer nation for all citizens.
The Cleric acknowledged that the security challenges, which initially worsened in the far North and North-Central, are increasingly spreading southward.
He expressed support for international collaborations to end insecurity, especially the tactical cooperation between the Federal Government and the United States.
”If you are overwhelmed and people are coming to help you, you will not say no. You will welcome them, provided they follow the proper lines of engagement.
”Our government is cooperating with the government of the United States of America and security forces to help dislodge these miscreants and terrorists.
“The position of CAN has not changed. If it takes other countries coming to help us out of this situation, so be it,” Okoh stressed.
He also advocated the speedy establishment of State Police and the decentralisation of the country’s security architecture to enable faster and more effective responses to threats.
The CAN President further demanded the unconditional release of all kidnapped victims and urged authorities to ensure justice for those affected by insecurity.
