Reports alleging that more than 100 worshippers were abducted during attacks on two churches in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State have been firmly rejected by the Kaduna State Government and the Kaduna State Police Command. Authorities described the claims as inaccurate, misleading, and capable of triggering unnecessary panic.
Reacting to the reports, the Chairman of the Northern Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Reverend John Hayab, earlier disclosed that he received an emergency call from the CAN chairman in the affected area. According to him, the information relayed suggested that residents of Kurmin Wali were taken from both Cherubim and Seraphim churches during worship sessions.
Hayab explained that the attackers reportedly arrived while services were ongoing, secured the church premises by locking the gates, and compelled worshippers to move with them into nearby bush areas.
He further claimed that as many as 163 worshippers were allegedly being held, while noting that eight individuals reportedly managed to escape from captivity.
Describing the alleged incident as a deliberate effort to spread fear and fuel religious division, the CAN leader stated that such actions would not weaken the determination of Christian bodies to pursue peace and cooperation with government institutions.
He emphasized that despite the disturbing nature of the report, religious leaders remained committed to working alongside security agencies and public authorities to halt criminal activities in the region.
Hayab also appealed to the Federal Government, the Kaduna State Government, and all relevant security agencies to urgently scale up rescue operations aimed at securing the freedom of those allegedly abducted.
He assured that Christian groups would remain united and willing to share credible intelligence that could help expose criminal networks behind such acts.
However, the Kaduna State Police Commissioner, Alhaji Muhammad Rabiu, publicly refuted the abduction narrative, stating that investigations did not support the claims being circulated.
Speaking to journalists after a State Security Council meeting held at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House on Monday, Rabiu described the report as the handiwork of “conflict entrepreneurs” whose aim was to disrupt peace and stability within the state.
The police commissioner challenged individuals spreading the information to present verifiable details, including names and identities of the supposed victims, to substantiate their claims.
He further cautioned against the circulation of unconfirmed stories, warning that those deliberately spreading false information would face legal consequences, as such actions could undermine the relative calm currently enjoyed in Kaduna State.
In the same vein, the Chairman of Kajuru Local Government Area, Dauda Madaki, also dismissed the reports after conducting independent checks.
Madaki explained that immediately after receiving information about the alleged incident, he deployed police officers and other security personnel to Kurmin Wali to assess the situation firsthand.
According to him, a physical inspection of the churches mentioned in the reports revealed no signs of an attack or abduction.
He added that consultations with the village head, Mai Dan Zaria, confirmed that no such incident occurred within the community.
Madaki further stated that the local youth leader, Bernard Bona, who spoke to journalists during the visit, also affirmed that there was no record or evidence of a church attack or mass kidnapping.
He therefore urged anyone insisting that an abduction took place to come forward with concrete information, including the identities of the alleged abducted individuals, to support their assertions.
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