Kaduna – The Kaduna State Police Commissioner, Alhaji Muhammad Rabiu, has dismissed as false reports alleging the kidnapping of 163 worshippers in Kajuru Local Government Area of the state.
Speaking to journalists on Monday after a State Security Council meeting held at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, Rabiu challenged those behind the reports to provide concrete evidence, including the names and details of the alleged victims.
“Anyone making this claim should come forward with the list of those kidnapped and other particulars. We have not received any such information,” the police commissioner said, warning against attempts to spread misinformation capable of disrupting the prevailing peace in the state.
Corroborating the police position, the Chairman of Kajuru Local Government Area, Mr Dauda Madaki, said investigations conducted by security agencies showed that no such incident occurred.
Madaki explained that upon hearing rumours of the alleged attack, he mobilised police and other security personnel to Kurmin Wali community, where the kidnapping was said to have taken place.
“We visited the church where the so-called kidnap occurred, and there was no evidence of any attack. I spoke with the village head, Mai Dan Zaria, and he confirmed that nothing of the sort happened,” Madaki said.
He added that the youth leader of the area, Bernard Bona, who was interviewed by journalists during the visit, also denied that any worshippers were abducted.
“I challenge anyone to name the people that were kidnapped. I have been waiting for this list, and no one has come forward,” the council chairman stated.
Madaki further alleged that the rumour was being sponsored by individuals unhappy with the relative peace Kajuru Local Government has enjoyed in recent times. He urged residents to remain calm, go about their lawful activities and report suspicious movements or rumourmongers to security agencies.
The reports of the alleged kidnapping were initially raised by the Chairman of the Northern Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev John Hayab, who claimed that worshippers were abducted from Cherubim and Seraphim Church 1 and Cherubim and Seraphim Church 2 in Kajuru while church services were ongoing.
According to Hayab, the attackers reportedly stormed the churches, locked the gates and marched worshippers into the bush.
However, the Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr Sule Shuaibu (SAN), said further engagement with community members disproved the claim.
“The CAN chairman and other religious leaders interacted with residents of the area where the alleged kidnapping was said to have occurred and discovered that what was circulated to the public was completely false,” Shuaibu said.
He reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to security, stressing that Kaduna State maintains zero tolerance for criminality.
As of the time of filing this report, security agencies maintained that there was no record or evidence of any abduction in Kajuru Local Government Area.
