Nigeria: Kaduna Police Deny Church Abduction Reports. Kaduna, Nigeria — Nigerian police have refuted claims of church abductions in Kaduna state, insisting that no such incidents occurred.
The Kaduna state police commissioner, Alhaji Muhammad Rabiu, termed the reports “mere falsehood “and accused unnamed individuals of spreading misinformation to provoke unrest.
The denial came after a local official in Kurmin Wali earlier reported to the reports that gunmen had abducted dozens of people attending church services.
However, police say no evidence supports these claims, and they challenge those making the allegations to provide the names and details of any alleged victims. Following the reports, security forces were dispatched to Kurmin Wali, but the chairman of Kajuru local government area, Dauda Madaki, stated that officials found no signs of an attack.
The Kaduna state commissioner for internal security and home affairs also noted that religious leaders who visited the area concluded that the public information was inaccurate. Despite the official stance, accounts from within the community and on social media have contradicted the police version.
A community leader, Ishaku Dan’azumi Sarkin, claimed that armed men attacked Kurmin Wali and abducted 177 people from three churches.
He also mentioned that some worshippers escaped and others were injured, with no deaths reported.
A video posted on X by a user identified as Zariyi Yusufu accused authorities of deliberately downplaying the incident, alleging that about 160 Christian worshippers were abducted and that residents and concerned citizens were being prevented from accessing the community. These claims, however, could not be independently verified.
Nigeria has recently experienced a surge in mass kidnappings, with criminal gangs targeting civilians across religious lines for ransom.
The country faces multiple security challenges, including kidnapping for ransom, an Islamist insurgency in the northeast, separatist violence in the southeast, and recurring clashes between farmers and herders in central regions. Security analysts suggest that corruption, poor intelligence coordination, and underfunded local policing are hindering efforts to address these crises.
Last month, Nigeria’s defense minister resigned amidst the kidnapping wave, with the presidency citing health reasons.
The situation remains fluid as authorities continue to investigate the incident. Further details are expected.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 4*
