ABUJA — The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has called on the Federal Government to declare a national security emergency in response to the escalating wave of killings, kidnappings, terrorist attacks, and violent crimes across the country, warning that Nigeria is facing a deepening security crisis.
The association said the worsening insecurity has reached an alarming level and requires urgent, decisive, and coordinated action to protect lives, rescue abducted citizens, restore peace, and rebuild public confidence in government institutions.
As part of its response, CAN announced a three-day national mourning period from June 12 to June 14, with June 14 designated as Black Sunday in churches nationwide to honour victims of violence and show solidarity with their families.
The resolutions were contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the National Church Denominational Leaders Summit 2026 held in Abuja and presented by CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh.
The summit brought together leaders from major Christian bodies across Nigeria, including the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Christian Council of Nigeria, Christian Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Organisation of African Instituted Churches, TEKAN/ECWA, and other member organisations to assess the state of the nation and the growing security challenges confronting citizens.
In the communiqué, church leaders strongly condemned the increasing incidents of murder, beheading, torture, rape, abduction, and forced displacement affecting communities across the country.
“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 National Security Emergency and deploy all lawful measures necessary to restore security across the country,” the communiqué stated.
The summit noted that it was convened amid rising insecurity, economic hardship, declining public trust in institutions, increasing social divisions, and growing threats to the lives and well-being of Nigerians.
Participants expressed concern over what they described as an unprecedented wave of violence, with communities repeatedly attacked, citizens kidnapped from their homes and workplaces, travellers abducted on highways, and farmers driven away from their farmlands by criminal gangs and terrorist groups.
The church leaders also highlighted attacks on churches, schools, and vulnerable communities, citing recent incidents of abductions, killings, and assaults in Oyo, Ogun, Borno, Kwara, Kogi, and several other states.
According to the summit, the continued assault on human life, freedom, and dignity poses a serious threat to Nigeria’s unity, stability, and development.
CAN reminded the Federal Government that protecting lives and property remains its primary constitutional responsibility and urged authorities to take immediate, measurable, and effective steps to halt the bloodshed and restore public confidence.
Beyond declaring a security emergency, the association called for a comprehensive review of Nigeria’s security architecture. It advocated stronger intelligence gathering, improved collaboration among security agencies, enhanced operational effectiveness, and greater accountability in the fight against terrorism, banditry, and violent crime.
The church leaders also urged the speedy completion of constitutional and legislative processes required for the establishment of state police and other lawful decentralised security structures, arguing that such measures would improve intelligence gathering, strengthen local accountability, and ensure faster responses to security threats.
The summit expressed concern that political calculations, defections, and early election campaigns were continuing despite the security challenges facing many communities.
CAN therefore urged political leaders, political parties, and public office holders to prioritise the safety and welfare of Nigerians over partisan interests and premature electioneering activities.
The association also called for stronger collaboration among government institutions, security agencies, faith-based organisations, traditional rulers, civil society groups, and local communities to tackle the growing threats to national peace and stability.
In addition, CAN demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all abducted schoolchildren, teachers, and other citizens currently held captive by criminal groups, while calling on security agencies to intensify rescue operations until all victims regain their freedom.
The church leaders further called for a comprehensive compensation, rehabilitation, and resettlement programme for victims of terrorism, kidnapping, and violent attacks. They also urged government authorities to facilitate the safe return of displaced persons to their ancestral communities under adequate security protection.
Participants lamented that thousands of Nigerians remain displaced from their homes and that many affected families continue to receive little support, justice, or compensation despite the losses they have suffered.
CAN also appealed to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), student bodies, civil society organisations, professional associations, and traditional institutions to support efforts aimed at holding government accountable for the protection of lives and property.
The association further raised concerns over weaknesses in intelligence gathering and coordination mechanisms, urging authorities to adopt a more proactive, decisive, and results-driven approach to combating insecurity.
While reaffirming its commitment to prayer and seeking divine intervention, CAN stressed that safeguarding human life must remain the highest priority of governments at all levels.
The church leaders pledged to continue engaging with the Presidency, National Assembly, security agencies, and other stakeholders while sustaining advocacy efforts and public pressure for urgent action to address the country’s worsening security situation.
CAN Calls for National Security Emergency, Declares Three-Day Mourning Over Rising Insecurity
