Nationwide Uncertainty: Christian Association of Nigeria Announces Three Days of Mourning

A three-day national mourning period has been declared by the Christian Association of Nigeria, spanning from June 12 to June 14, in honour of the victims of violent attacks, mass abductions, and banditry across the country.

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The apex Christian body has also designated June 14 as “Black Sunday” across all Churches, as a mark of solidarity with families affected by the lingering security crisis, a decision announced by the President of CAN, Archbishop Daniel Okoh.

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Archbishop Okoh made the announcement on Tuesday in Abuja, while reading a communiqué issued at the end of the National Church Denominational Leaders Summit, which was themed “The State of the Nation and the Way Forward”.

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The summit, held at the National Christian Centre, brought together top Church leaders, block leaders, and delegates to prayerfully review the country’s challenges, with a focus on finding a way forward.

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Okoh expressed deep concern over the escalating wave of violence, citing recent incidents of killings, kidnappings, and destruction of communities in states such as Oyo, Ogun, Borno, Kwara, and Kogi, which have been ravaged by insecurity.

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The CAN President urged the Federal Government to immediately declare a state of emergency on national security to halt the ongoing bloodshed, emphasizing the need for decisive action to protect citizens.

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Okoh painted a grim picture of the security situation, stating that “communities are under attack; citizens are kidnapped from their homes and places of work, travelers are abducted on highways, and farmers are driven from their lands”.

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Innocent men, women, and children are being killed, maimed, displaced, and, in some cases, brutally beheaded by criminal and terrorist elements, according to Okoh, who condemned the brutal attacks.

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The CAN President criticised the “recurring resort to conciliatory and pacifist rhetoric by senior government officials” in response to grave security threats, calling instead for a proactive, result-oriented approach to addressing the crisis.

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He reminded the government that the primary responsibility of any administration remains the protection of lives and property, emphasizing the need for a more effective security strategy.

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Consequently, the Cleric demanded a comprehensive review of the nation’s security architecture, improved intelligence gathering, stronger inter-agency cooperation, and greater operational accountability, to ensure a more robust response to security challenges.

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Okoh also threw his weight behind decentralising security operations, calling for the immediate acceleration of constitutional and legislative processes for the establishment of state police, to enhance security at the local level.

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The CAN President further demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all abducted school children, teachers, and other citizens currently held captive by criminal elements, to bring an end to their suffering.

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On the humanitarian front, Okoh called for the establishment of a comprehensive compensation, rehabilitation, and resettlement programme for victims of terrorism and families who have lost livelihoods or loved ones, to help them rebuild their lives.

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He also tasked individual Churches across the federation to strengthen internal support systems by providing humanitarian assistance, trauma care, and peace-building initiatives for displaced persons within their localities, to promote healing and reconciliation.

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Okoh lamented that premature electioneering, political calculations, and party defections were taking center stage among the political class while many communities remained under siege, diverting attention from the pressing security concerns.

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He advised political leaders and parties to shun divisive distractions and prioritise national security, to ensure that the country’s challenges are addressed in a unified and effective manner.

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The Cleric called on organised labour groups, civil society organisations, and traditional institutions to collaborate in holding the government accountable, to promote transparency and good governance.

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Okoh reaffirmed the commitment of the Church to national unity, peace, and justice, emphasizing the need for sustained civic engagement and advocacy to promote a more just and peaceful society.

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He stressed that, while prayers would be intensified, they must be matched with sustained civic engagement and advocacy, to ensure that the country’s challenges are addressed through a combination of spiritual and practical efforts.