The Kaduna police command and local authorities have dismissed reports that over 100 worshippers were abducted in Kajuru LGA, describing the claims as falsehoods spread by “conflict entrepreneurs” seeking to disrupt the state’s relative peace.
Earlier today, BBC reported that armed gangs kidnapped dozens of people attending two churches in Kurmin Wali, a forest community in Afogo ward of Kaduna.
The report quoted a senior church leader as saying more than 160 worshippers were abducted by gunmen during Sunday service.
However, speaking on Monday after a state security council meeting at Sir Kashim Ibrahim House in Kaduna, Muhammad Rabiu, the state’s commissioner of police, challenged those spreading the reports to provide names and details of the victims.
“Anyone who has evidence should come forward with the list of kidnapped persons and their particulars,” Rabiu said.
The police commissioner warned rumourmongers against attempts to derail the state’s relative calm, vowing that the full weight of the law would be applied to those spreading falsehoods.
Dauda Madaki, chairman of Kajuru LGA, corroborated the police position, noting that he personally mobilised security forces to the community at the centre of the rumours upon hearing the reports but found no evidence of any attack.
“We visited the church where the so-called kidnap took place. There was no evidence of the attack,” Madaki said.
The LG chairman added that he consulted Mai Dan Zaria, the village head, and Bernard Bona, the youth leader, who denied any incident and told journalists present that nothing of the sort had occurred.
Madaki also challenged anyone to produce a list of alleged victims, noting that no such information had been forthcoming despite his public call.
He attributed the rumour to individuals unhappy with the improved security situation in Kajuru under the current administration.
Sule Shuaibu, commissioner for internal security and home affairs, said religious leaders, including the state’s chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), had engaged with community members in the affected area and confirmed the reports were “completely false”.
Shuaibu reiterated the government’s zero-tolerance stance against criminality and urged residents to remain calm, go about their lawful activities, and report any suspicious movements or rumour spreaders to security agencies.
