CAN Calls June 14 Black Sunday in All Nigerian Churches Over Insecurity

ABUJA — The Christian Association of Nigeria has designated Sunday, June 14, 2026, as a Black Sunday across all churches in Nigeria. The Telegraph Nigeria confirmed the CAN resolution on Wednesday. Black Sunday will honour victims of violence and express solidarity with families affected by the ongoing insecurity crisis.

CAN said Black Sunday is not a political statement but a spiritual and humanitarian one. It said the church has a duty to acknowledge the suffering of its members and of all Nigerians who have been killed, abducted, or displaced by violence. It said prayer and solidarity are the church’s tools in a national emergency.

On Black Sunday, churches across Nigeria will dedicate time in their services to prayers for abducted schoolchildren, for the families of those killed in terror attacks, and for the nation’s security forces. A moment of silence will be observed at 12 noon across all churches regardless of denomination.

Beyond the Church Walls

CAN called on the NLC, NBA, NUT, student bodies, civil society organisations, and traditional institutions to join in the three-day mourning period that begins on June 12 and culminates on Black Sunday, June 14. The association said the mourning period must translate into sustained advocacy and accountability demands.

The declaration has received broad support from Christian communities across Nigeria. Several prominent pastors and bishops have already announced their churches’ participation. The Catholic Church in Nigeria, CAN’s largest constituent body, said it fully endorses both the mourning period and the Black Sunday designation.

Muslim leaders have also expressed solidarity with CAN’s call for national reflection on insecurity. The Sultan of Sokoto and several northern emirs said insecurity affects all Nigerians regardless of religion and that the mourning period speaks to a shared national pain. They pledged to hold their own prayers for peace and security in mosques on the same dates.