The Kaduna State Government and the Kaduna State Police Command have dismissed reports claiming that more than 100 worshippers were abducted during attacks on two churches in Kajuru Local Government Area of the state.
The authorities described the reports as false and misleading, saying investigations showed that no such incident occurred in Kurmin Wali community.
The reports had alleged that suspected bandits attacked Cherubim and Seraphim Church 1 and Cherubim and Seraphim Church 2 on Sunday and abducted worshippers during church services.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Northern Christian Association of Nigeria, Rev John Hayab, had claimed that worshippers were taken away by gunmen during the services.
“I received a distress call yesterday from the CAN chairman in that area that an unspecified number of residents of Kurmin Wali in Kajuru LGA were abducted,” he said.
He further alleged that 163 worshippers were still in captivity, while eight reportedly escaped.
However, speaking after a State Security Council meeting at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House on Monday, the Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, Muhammad Rabiu, dismissed the claim.
“The report is being peddled by conflict entrepreneurs who want to create chaos in the state,” Rabiu said.
He challenged those spreading the story to provide the names and details of the alleged victims, warning that legal action would be taken against anyone spreading false information capable of disrupting peace.
Similarly, the Chairman of Kajuru Local Government Area, Dauda Madaki, said checks carried out by the council and security agencies showed that no church attack or kidnap took place.
“We visited the church where the so-called kidnapping took place. There was no evidence of any attack,” Madaki said.
He added that the village head and youth leader of Kurmin Wali also confirmed that nothing of such happened in the community.
“I challenge anyone to name the people that were kidnapped. No one has been able to provide any names,” he stated.
The Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Sule Shuaibu (SAN), said religious leaders who visited the community also confirmed that the report was false.
“What was pushed out to the public sphere was completely false,” Shuaibu said, adding that the state government has zero tolerance for criminality.
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party called on the Federal Government to launch rescue operations to secure the release of worshippers allegedly abducted.
In a statement, the PDP described the reported incident as a reflection of worsening insecurity in the country and urged the government to prioritise the protection of lives.
“The protection of citizens is the government’s primary constitutional responsibility. Every Nigerian deserves to worship in safety,” the party said.
Despite the official denial by state authorities, the situation has continued to generate public debate, with calls for greater transparency and improved security across Kaduna State.
