By Seyi Odewale
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on Sunday declared that “Nigeria is bleeding” as churches across the country observed a nationwide Black Sunday in honour of victims of insecurity and renewed calls for urgent government action to halt the persistent wave of killings, kidnappings and violent attacks.
The sombre observance coincided with fresh international attention on Nigeria’s security situation, as United States Congressman Riley Moore urged the global community not to overlook what he described as the persecution and killing of Christians in parts of the country.
Across congregations nationwide, worshippers participated in the Black Sunday programme as a mark of mourning for thousands of Nigerians who have lost their lives or suffered displacement and trauma as a result of violent conflicts, terrorism, banditry and other forms of insecurity.
President of CAN, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, said the initiative was intended to honour victims while drawing national and international attention to what he described as an increasingly alarming security situation.
“Our nation is bleeding, and the Church cannot remain silent,” Okoh said in a statement.
He called on the Federal Government, state governments and security agencies to take “urgent, decisive and sustained measures” to safeguard lives and property, stressing that the continued loss of innocent citizens undermines national unity, economic progress and democratic development.
According to CAN, the day was dedicated to the memory of victims from all segments of society, including clergy, women, children, farmers, students and community leaders who have been killed, abducted or displaced by violence in different parts of the country.
The association warned that insecurity has evolved beyond a law-and-order challenge into a major threat to national development, noting that peace and stability remain indispensable for economic growth, investment, education and social cohesion.
CAN also urged Nigerians to unite in demanding greater accountability and effectiveness from institutions responsible for protecting citizens, insisting that the country cannot afford to become indifferent to the continuous loss of human lives.
Meanwhile, U.S. Congressman Riley Moore renewed calls for sustained international engagement on the plight of Christian communities affected by violence in Nigeria.
Moore, who has previously visited Nigeria and met victims of attacks, said the issue should remain a priority for governments, policymakers and global human rights organisations.
His intervention comes amid ongoing international debate over how to characterise Nigeria’s security crisis.
While some foreign lawmakers, religious freedom advocates and advocacy groups have described attacks on Christian communities as a form of targeted persecution, Nigerian authorities and several international observers argue that the country’s security challenges are complex and multifaceted, involving terrorism, banditry, communal clashes, farmer-herder conflicts and organised criminal activities that affect both Christians and Muslims.
The renewed spotlight on Nigeria’s insecurity comes as the country continues to grapple with recurring attacks, mass abductions and killings in several states despite ongoing military operations and security interventions.
At the policy level, lawmakers are advancing proposals to establish state police as part of broader constitutional and security reforms to improve intelligence gathering, local policing, and rapid-response capabilities.
Reiterating the purpose of the nationwide observance, CAN said Black Sunday was both a memorial for victims and a call to action for leaders at all levels of government.
“The loss of innocent lives must never become normal,” the association said, urging authorities to act swiftly to restore peace, strengthen public confidence and ensure that all Nigerians can live and work without fear.
