ABUJA — The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has officially declared Sunday, June 14, 2026, as a "Black Sunday" to honor the memory of those lost to the rising tide of terrorist attacks, banditry, and kidnapping across the country.
National Day of Mourning and Prayer
Following the conclusion of the National Church Denominational Leadership Summit 2026, the CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, announced a three-day national prayer program scheduled to take place from June 12 to June 14, 2026.
While emphasizing the power of prayer, Archbishop Okoh stated that spiritual efforts must be coupled with decisive government action. He issued a series of urgent demands to the Federal Government:
Declare a State of Emergency: The association is calling for a formal state of emergency regarding the nation's security situation.
Decentralize Security: CAN is advocating for the immediate acceleration of state police initiatives and the decentralization of Nigeria’s security architecture to ensure faster, localized responses to threats.
Justice and Release: Archbishop Okoh demanded the unconditional release of all individuals currently held in captivity and insisted on justice for all victims of terrorism and their grieving families.
Calls for Accountability: Pastor Adeboye’s Stance
In a related development, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has publicly challenged the Federal Government’s approach to the security crisis.
In a recent video statement, Pastor Adeboye proposed that security chiefs be given a 90-day ultimatum to eliminate terrorist elements nationwide. He argued that if these leaders fail to produce tangible results within that period, they should be mandated to resign, emphasizing that security personnel must be held strictly accountable for their performance in the fight against terrorism.
