The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has called on the Federal Government to intensify efforts to end killings, terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other forms of insecurity ravaging the country.
CAN President, His Eminence, Archbishop (Dr.) Daniel C. Okoh, made the call in Abuja on Friday at a press conference ahead of the association’s 50th anniversary celebration, themed: “Walking Together in Faith: Celebrating 50 Years of CAN’s Journey.”
Okoh said the scale of insecurity had become so significant that it was impossible to reflect on CAN’s five-decade journey without highlighting the devastating impact of violence on Nigerians.
“It would be impossible to speak about CAN at 50 without speaking about insecurity in Nigeria,” he said.
According to him, Nigerians have, for more than a decade, endured terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, communal violence, farmer-herder conflicts and other forms of criminality.
He said places of worship had been attacked, while worshippers had been killed, abducted or displaced. Entire communities, he added, had also been uprooted from their ancestral homes and forced into internally displaced persons’ camps.
“Farmers have been driven away from their farmlands, contributing to hunger and food insecurity. Children have lost access to education. Families have been separated. Communities that once lived in peace have been traumatized and divided,” Okoh said.
The CAN President stressed that the primary responsibility of government was to protect lives and property, saying citizens should not be forced to negotiate with terrorists, bandits or kidnappers simply to stay alive.
“CAN therefore repeats its call to government that the primary responsibility of government is to protect life and property,” he said.
‘Early warning must lead to early response’
Okoh called for a stronger security architecture capable of preventing attacks rather than merely responding after they occur.
“Early warning must lead to early response,” he declared.
He urged the government to empower communities and civil society organisations to play meaningful roles in identifying emerging security threats.
According to him, authorities should not wait until lives are lost before taking action.
While acknowledging the efforts of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to reduce violence and insecurity, Okoh said more needed to be done to improve the effectiveness of security agencies.
“We acknowledge the efforts of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his team to reduce the level of violence and insecurity in the nation, but we believe that more could be done to improve the services of security agencies in Nigeria,” he said.
“Every Nigerian is looking forward to seeing the end of killings in this nation.”
CAN history to document impact of insecurity
The CAN President disclosed that the association’s historical record, scheduled for formal launch on October 17, 2026, would document the impact of insecurity on Christian communities and the wider Nigerian society over the past five decades.
He said the publication would chronicle how insecurity had disrupted worship, displaced congregations and weakened the capacity of churches to perform their traditional social functions.
It would also document CAN’s advocacy, engagements with government and security agencies, humanitarian interventions and international engagements over the years, he added.
Okoh urged Nigerians, particularly Christians and members of the media, to obtain copies of the historical publication when it is released.
“It is not merely a record of CAN’s past; it is also a record of the Nigerian story as experienced through the eyes of the Christian community,” he said.
