The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on security across the country amid escalating killings, kidnappings, terrorist attacks, and the destruction of communities.
The call formed part of the resolutions reached at the National Church Denominational Leaders’ Summit held at the National Christian Centre, Abuja, on Tuesday.
In a communiqué issued at the end of the summit, themed “The State of the Nation and the Way Forward”, church leaders expressed deep concern over worsening insecurity, economic hardship, and declining public confidence in state institutions.
The association condemned what it described as “barbaric acts of murder, beheading, torture, rape, abduction and forced displacement”, urging the Federal Government to take urgent, decisive and measurable action to restore public confidence and safeguard lives and property.
CAN also called for a comprehensive review of the nation’s security architecture, stronger intelligence gathering, enhanced inter-agency cooperation, and greater accountability in the fight against terrorism, banditry, and violent crime.
The Christian body further urged the immediate acceleration of constitutional and legislative processes to establish state police and other lawful decentralised security structures to improve intelligence gathering, rapid response, and local accountability.
It demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all abducted schoolchildren, teachers, and other citizens currently in captivity, calling on security agencies to intensify rescue operations.
As part of its resolutions, CAN declared Friday, June 12, 2026, as the commencement of three days of national mourning, designating June 14 as Black Sunday across churches in Nigeria in honour of victims of violence and in solidarity with families affected by insecurity.
