Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has declared Sunday, June 14, 2026, as a nationwide “Black Sunday” to honour victims of terrorist attacks and other forms of violence across the country. The association also announced a three-day national prayer programme scheduled to run from June 12 to June 14, 2026, preceding the day of mourning.
Speaking at the end of the National Church Denominational Leadership Summit 2026, CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, stressed that prayers alone would not resolve Nigeria’s worsening security challenges. He called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on insecurity, describing the situation as critical and requiring immediate intervention.
Archbishop Okoh 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. He further demanded the unconditional release of all kidnapped victims and urged authorities to ensure justice for those affected by insecurity.
The declaration comes at a time of mounting public frustration over the government’s perceived failure to stop a wave of mass abductions and killings across the country, including the recent abduction of 46 pupils and teachers from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State. That incident, now in its third week, has triggered nationwide protests and an indefinite strike by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in Oyo State.
The CAN president’s call for a state of emergency on insecurity and the decentralisation of the security apparatus reflects a growing consensus among civil society groups and opposition politicians who have long argued that the centralised command structure has left rural communities vulnerable to prolonged attacks. The Federal Government has not yet responded to Archbishop Okoh’s demands.
As the three-day national prayer programme approaches, Christians across Nigeria are expected to gather in churches to observe the period of sober reflection and intercession. The subsequent “Black Sunday” on June 14 will serve as a solemn day of mourning for the thousands of Nigerians, including many Christians, who have lost their lives in the country’s protracted security crisis.
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