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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Crime & Justice

CAN declares Black Sunday to mourn insecurity victims

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • The Christian Association of Nigeria declared a nationwide Black Sunday to mourn victims of insecurity.
  • The observance coincided with Democracy Day, highlighting security as crucial for Nigeria's democratic progress.
  • CAN urged government action to protect citizens and called for strengthened security measures in faith-based institutions.

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has declared a nationwide "Black Sunday" to honor victims of insecurity, calling the situation a "national tragedy." CAN President Archbishop Daniel Okoh stated the observance aims to mourn those affected by violence, terrorism, kidnapping, and banditry.

Today, we are not only mourning; we are speaking with one voice. Our nation is bleeding, and the Church cannot remain silent while innocent lives are lost and families live in fear.

— Archbishop Daniel OkohDescribing the purpose of the Black Sunday observance.

"Our nation is bleeding, and the Church cannot remain silent while innocent lives are lost and families live in fear," Okoh said in a message to Christians. He linked the Black Sunday observance to Democracy Day, emphasizing that security is fundamental to Nigeria's democratic journey. "Democracy is founded on the sanctity and dignity of human life, the rule of law, justice, and the protection of citizens," he stated.

Democracy is founded on the sanctity and dignity of human life, the rule of law, justice, and the protection of citizens. Therefore, there can be no more fitting way to honour the sacrifices that birthed our democracy than by recommitting ourselves to building a nation where every Nigerian can live, work, worship, and travel in safety.

— Christian Association of NigeriaExplaining the connection between security and democracy.

CAN expressed solidarity with bereaved families and those traumatized by insecurity, praying for comfort, healing, and justice. The association urged governments at all levels to implement "urgent, decisive, and sustained measures" to secure lives and property. It also called on churches and other faith-based organizations to enhance their security protocols, including awareness, preparedness, and vigilance.

We call on the government on all levels to take urgent, decisive, and sustained measures to secure lives and property across our nation. The protection of citizens is a sacred responsibility entrusted to those in authority and must be treated with the utmost seriousness.

— Christian Association of NigeriaUrging government action on security.

The association encouraged Nigerians to resist fear and remain united in seeking peace, justice, and national healing, quoting Matthew 5:4: "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted."

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

— CANQuoting Matthew 5:4 in relation to the observance.
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Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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