ICAN has called on the Nigerian federal government to declare a state of emergency on security across the country, citing the barbaric acts of murder, beheading, torture, rape, abduction, and forced displacement being perpetrated against innocent citizens.
The organisation has declared a three-day national period of mourning beginning Friday June 12 through Sunday June 14, 2026, in honour of victims of violence across the country. The mourning period aims to draw national and international attention to the scale of the security crisis.
ICAN has further designated Sunday June 14 as Black Sunday across churches in Nigeria. The day will be observed in solidarity with families affected by insecurity and as a collective expression of grief over the ongoing violence in multiple regions of the country.
The call for emergency declaration came at the conclusion of a national summit that brought together religious leaders, security experts, and civil society representatives. The summit heard testimony about escalating attacks on communities in several states.
The summit ended with a renewed call for unity among all tiers of government, security agencies, faith leaders, and citizens to address the rising wave of insecurity and restore peace across the country. Participants stressed that a coordinated response is urgently needed.
Separately, Vice President Kashim Shettima urged state governments to fast-track business-friendly reforms to fully harness the benefits of the 750 million dollar World Bank-supported State Action on Business Enabling Reforms Program during a meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The juxtaposition of the security emergency call and the economic reform push highlights the dual challenges facing Nigeria. While the government seeks to attract investment and reform the business environment, the deteriorating security situation threatens to undermine economic progress across the country.