Borno Christian Community Holds ‘Black Sunday’ Procession to Protest Persistent Insecurity

Christian faithful in Borno State staged a solemn “Black Sunday” procession in Maiduguri on Sunday, calling on the federal and state governments to take decisive action against escalating insecurity, mass abductions, and targeted violence across Nigeria.

The demonstration was organized in response to a directive from the national leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), which declared a nationwide day of mourning and prayer for victims of banditry, terrorism, and kidnapping.

Speaking during the procession, Joshua Akeredolu, the Secretary of the Borno State CAN chapter, explained that the gathering served a dual purpose: to mourn those who have lost their lives and to offer intense prayers for citizens currently held captive by criminal syndicates.

“Today is designated as Black Sunday for believers across the nation to pray specifically for those in the dens of kidnappers and to confront the insecurity we face as a country,” Akeredolu stated. “We are also praying that God grants our leaders the direction and focus required to permanently end this crisis.”

Akeredolu highlighted the severe toll the security crisis has taken on the local religious community, noting that numerous clergy members and congregants have been systematically targeted, abducted, or killed by terrorist factions in the region. He cited specific cases, including the 2023 abduction of a local minister and his wife in Gamboru Ngala, as well as the targeted killing of an EYN Church pastor in Askira-Uba.

According to local church leadership, faith has increasingly become a screening mechanism for insurgents during highway abductions, with Christian captives frequently held for prolonged periods or executed based on their religious identity.

In response to the ongoing threat, Akeredolu emphasized that the state’s Christian leadership is actively working to safeguard its members by intensifying security advocacy and maintaining open channels of mediation with government authorities.

The nationwide “Black Sunday” initiative was initially announced by CAN President Archbishop Daniel Okoh, who described the country’s security situation as a national tragedy that continues to devastate families, farming communities, and educational institutions nationwide.