“The chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Northern States, Rev. Joseph Hayab has also confirmed the incident to the media.”
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The Nigeria Police Force has confirmed that an abduction incident occurred at Kurmin Wali, a remote community in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, following an initial denial.
In a press statement issued on Tuesday night, the Force spokesperson CSP Benjamin Hundenyi said it was the fear and anxiety generated by reports of the incident that caused the denial, but reassured the public that the safety of citizens remains top priority.
Kadunanews24 reports that about 177 people were kidnapped last Sunday around 11am during worship service by score of kidnappers who arrived on motorbikes, according to surviving villagers.
The chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Northern States, Rev. Joseph Hayab has also confirmed the incident to the media.
Unfortunately, the Kaduna State Police Commissioner and the chairman, Kajuru local government told the press on Sunday after an emergency security meeting with the governor that nothing of such happened.
According to the statement by the Force headquarters, “upon receiving the report, the Kaduna State Security Council was convened” by Governor Uba Sani at the Government House in Kaduna to review the situation and coordinate a response.
However, the Police disclosed that “during the meeting, some individuals from the affected local government area disputed the report”, describing it as false, despite earlier confirmation by the Police. The conflicting accounts, the Force said, created uncertainty and necessitated caution and thorough verification before making definitive public statements.
The Police explained that comments earlier made by the Commissioner of Police, Kaduna State Command, during a media interaction were aimed at preventing unnecessary panic while facts were being confirmed. The remarks, according to the statement, were widely misinterpreted as a denial of the incident, whereas they were intended as a measured response pending field verification, including the identities and number of victims.
“Subsequent verification from operational units and intelligence sources has now confirmed that the incident did occur,” the statement said.
Following the confirmation, the Nigeria Police Force said it activated coordinated security operations in collaboration with other security agencies, with a focus on locating and safely rescuing the victims and restoring calm in the affected area.
The Police appealed to members of the public and the media to exercise patience and cooperate with security agencies by relying on official communications for verified information and avoiding speculation or sensational reporting that could jeopardise ongoing operations.
The Force assured that it remains fully committed to the safety of all citizens and would continue to provide updates as the situation develops.
Meanwhile, villagers have released names of all their relatives that were kidnapped, which includes elderly men and women, nursing mothers, and children.
A report in the social media not verified said that villagers have been contacted by the kidnappers to supply food items to feed their victims.
Villages surrounding the community are now living in fear of the unknown.
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