Authorities in Kaduna State are embroiled in a public disagreement over the veracity of a shocking report claiming that armed bandits abducted over 160 worshippers from two churches. The state police command has firmly dismissed the allegations as false, while a regional Christian leader maintains that the incident occurred, with many still missing.
Police, Local Council Chairman Dismiss Kidnap Claims
The Kaduna State Police Commissioner, Alhaji Muhammad Rabiu, has categorically described reports of the mass kidnapping as untrue. He issued the denial after a State Security Council meeting held at Sir Kashim Ibrahim House on Monday, January 19, 2026. Commissioner Rabiu challenged those propagating the story to provide concrete evidence, including the names and particulars of the alleged victims.
Echoing the police position, the Chairman of Kajuru Local Government Area, Dauda Madaki, stated that an immediate investigation found no proof of any attack. He revealed that he mobilized security agencies to the Kurmin Wali community upon hearing the rumors. "We visited the church where the so-called kidnap took place. There was no evidence of any attack," Madaki said. He quoted both the village head, Mai Dan Zaria, and the youth leader, Bernard Bona, as confirming that no such incident happened in the area.
CAN Chairman's Contradictory Account
In stark contrast to the official statements, the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the northern region presented a different narrative. According to the CAN official, the kidnap did occur, and while nine worshippers managed to escape, approximately 163 persons remain missing following the bandits' attack. This assertion has created a significant rift in the accounts of the event, leaving the public uncertain about the true situation.
Allegations of Sponsored Rumors Amidst Peace
LGA Chairman Dauda Madaki suggested a motive behind the circulation of the kidnap story. He alleged that the rumor is being sponsored by individuals unhappy with the relative peace currently enjoyed in Kajuru under the present administration. "I believe that the rumour of the kidnap is being sponsored by people who are not happy with the relative peace that Kajuru has been enjoying," Madaki stated. He reiterated his challenge for anyone to produce a list of the kidnapped individuals, noting that no one has come forward with such information.
The dispute emerges against a backdrop of genuine security concerns in the region. The news report referencing the Kaduna incident also recalled separate attacks on churches in Kogi State. In one case, gunmen attacked a Cherubim and Seraphim Church in Ejiba, Yagba West LGA, on Sunday, November 30, 2025, kidnapping a pastor, his wife, and other members. In another, armed bandits attacked an ECWA church in Àaaaz-Kiri, killing at least one worshipper and abducting several others.
The conflicting reports from the police and a major religious body highlight the challenges of information verification in regions affected by insecurity. It underscores the tension between official narratives and community-reported incidents, leaving residents in a state of confusion and fear.
