The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on insecurity, warning that the worsening security situation across the country requires urgent and decisive action.
Speaking in Abuja on Tuesday while presenting a communiqué issued after CAN’s National Church Denominational Leaders Summit 2026, the association’s president, Daniel Okoh, said the appeal was not intended as a criticism of President Bola Tinubu but a reminder of the government’s constitutional duty to protect lives and property.
The summit, themed “The State of the Nation and the Way Forward,” brought together church leaders and delegates from across the country to assess Nigeria’s challenges and chart possible solutions.
Okoh said the country had reached a point where stronger measures were necessary to tackle insecurity.
“We are talking to a government that still has a level of responsibility, and so they will listen. We hope that when they listen, they will do the needful.
Read more news:
“It has come to that point where the government will have to declare a state of emergency on security,” he said.
Addressing concerns about self-defence, the CAN president acknowledged that protecting oneself is a natural instinct but cautioned that any such actions must remain within the bounds of the law.
“It is a natural human instinct for one to defend himself.
“But what we are saying in CAN is that people and churches should be able to defend themselves, their properties and their homes within reasonable legal limits,” he stated.
Okoh said CAN would continue engaging the government through public advocacy and private consultations to push for improved security and accountability.
According to him, the summit marks the beginning of broader efforts by the association to ensure that authorities take concrete steps to address the nation’s security crisis.
He also expressed concern that insecurity, once concentrated mainly in the North and North-Central regions, is increasingly spreading to other parts of the country.
The cleric further endorsed international cooperation in combating terrorism and criminality, including security collaboration between Nigeria and the United States.
“If you are overwhelmed and people are coming to help you, you will not say no. You will welcome them, provided they follow the proper lines of engagement.
“Our government is cooperating with the government of the United States of America and security forces to help dislodge these miscreants and terrorists.
“The position of CAN has not changed. If it takes other countries coming to help us out of this situation, so be it,” Okoh said.
The association maintained that restoring security remains critical to national stability and urged authorities to act swiftly to protect citizens across the country.
SEE Full Details ➜