Declare Security Emergency Now, CAN Warns Federal Government
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has called on the Federal Government to urgently declare a state of emergency on security, citing the escalating wave of insecurity threatening lives and property across the country.
CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, made the appeal on Tuesday in Abuja while presenting a communiqué issued at the end of the association’s 2026 National Church Denominational Leaders Summit.
The summit, themed “The State of the Nation and the Way Forward,” brought together senior church leaders, denominational heads, and delegates to assess Nigeria’s challenges and chart a path forward.
Okoh stressed that CAN’s call should not be viewed as a challenge to President Bola Tinubu’s administration but as a reminder of the government’s constitutional duty to protect citizens and safeguard the nation’s territorial integrity.
“We are speaking to a government that still has a responsibility to its people. We hope it will listen and take the necessary steps. The situation has reached a point where a state of emergency on security is necessary,” he said.
Responding to questions on whether Nigerians should resort to self-defence, the cleric acknowledged that self-preservation is a natural instinct but cautioned that any form of protection must remain within the bounds of the law.
“It is natural for people to defend themselves. However, CAN believes that individuals, churches, and communities should protect their lives and property only within reasonable legal limits,” he stated.
Okoh said the association would continue to engage the government through public advocacy and diplomatic channels to ensure greater accountability in addressing the security crisis.
According to him, the summit marks the beginning of a series of strategic engagements aimed at promoting national safety and stability.
He also noted that insecurity, which was once concentrated in the North and North-Central regions, is increasingly spreading to other parts of the country, including the South.
The CAN president expressed support for international partnerships aimed at tackling terrorism and banditry, particularly ongoing security cooperation between Nigeria and the United States.
“If assistance from other countries is needed to overcome this challenge, we should welcome it, provided it follows proper diplomatic and operational procedures,” he said.
“Our government is already working with the United States and other security partners to combat terrorists and criminal elements. CAN’s position remains clear: if international support will help restore peace and security, then it should be embraced.”
