The call was contained in resolutions reached at the National Church Denominational Leaders’ Summit held at the National Christian Centre in Abuja on Tuesday, where religious leaders expressed deep concern over Nigeria’s worsening security situation and economic hardship.
CAN Raises Alarm Over Nationwide Violence
In a communiqué issued at the end of the summit themed “The State of the Nation and the Way Forward,” church leaders warned that insecurity has reached alarming levels, leaving thousands of Nigerians displaced and many communities under constant threat.
The association noted that recent incidents of mass abductions and violent attacks across states such as Oyo State, Ogun, Borno, Benue, and Kogi have heightened fear among citizens, particularly attacks targeting schools and farming communities.
CAN condemned what it described as “barbaric acts of murder, beheading, torture, rape, abduction and forced displacement,” urging urgent government intervention to restore public confidence.
Call for Security Overhaul and State Police
The association urged the Federal Government to undertake a comprehensive review of Nigeria’s security architecture, improve intelligence gathering, strengthen inter-agency cooperation, and ensure greater accountability in the fight against terrorism and violent crime.
CAN also renewed its call for constitutional reforms to establish state police and other decentralised security structures, arguing that such measures would improve local intelligence gathering and rapid response to security threats.
The group further demanded the immediate release of all abducted schoolchildren, teachers, and other citizens currently in captivity, while calling on security agencies to intensify rescue operations nationwide.
Three-Day National Mourning Declared
As part of its resolutions, CAN announced a three-day national mourning period beginning Friday, June 12, 2026, and ending Sunday, June 14, 2026.
The association also declared June 14 as a “Black Sunday” across churches in Nigeria, to honour victims of violence and show solidarity with affected families.
It called on key stakeholders, including the Nigeria Labour Congress, Nigerian Bar Association, Nigerian Union of Teachers, student organisations, civil society groups, and traditional institutions, to work together to ensure accountability and improved security governance.
Context of Recent Attacks
The decision comes amid a wave of recent mass abductions and killings across the country, including the kidnapping of pupils and teachers in Oyo State.
On May 15, armed attackers invaded three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, abducting 39 pupils and seven teachers, including a vice principal. A school worker was killed during the attack, while one of the abducted teachers, Michael Oyedokun, was later reportedly beheaded.
In response to rising insecurity, President Bola Tinubu approved the deployment of 1,000 forest guards, while security agencies intensified rescue operations.
Governor Seyi Makinde and a Federal Government delegation have also visited affected communities, assuring residents of ongoing efforts to secure the release of abducted victims.
Despite these measures, renewed attacks including a separate incident in Borno State where 42 pupils were abducted have continued to raise national concern over school security and rural safety.
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