The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has declared Sunday, June 14, 2026, as “Black Sunday” in honour of victims of terrorism and violent attacks across the country.
The association also announced a three-day national prayer programme scheduled to hold from June 12 to June 14 as part of efforts to seek divine intervention over the country’s worsening security challenges.
CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, disclosed this at the end of the National Church Denominational Leadership Summit 2026.
He, however, stressed that prayers alone would not be sufficient to address the growing insecurity facing the nation, calling for concrete and decisive actions from government at all levels.
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According to Okoh, there is an urgent need for stronger measures to tackle terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and other forms of violent crimes threatening lives and livelihoods across Nigeria.
The CAN President urged the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on insecurity, saying the situation requires extraordinary measures to restore peace and public confidence.
He also renewed calls for the establishment of state police and the decentralisation of the country’s security architecture to enable faster and more effective responses to security threats.
Okoh further demanded the unconditional release of all kidnapped victims currently being held by criminal groups and called for justice to be served for victims and affected communities.
The Christian leader expressed concern over the continued loss of lives and destruction of property in various parts of the country, urging security agencies to intensify efforts toward protecting citizens.
He reiterated CAN’s commitment to supporting initiatives that promote peace, national unity, and security, while encouraging Christians across the country to participate in the planned prayer sessions and Black Sunday observance.
The association maintained that addressing insecurity requires both spiritual commitment and practical policy actions aimed at safeguarding lives and strengthening national stability.