The Kaduna State Police Command has denied reports that over 100 people were abducted from three churches during Sunday worship in Kurmin Wali community, Kajuru Local Government Area of the state.
There were reports that bandits invaded the community and abducted 177 people from three churches during worship on Sunday.
According to the reports, the three churches affected include the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), a Catholic church, and the Seraphim and Cherubim Church.
The report added that 11 of the abducted persons escaped while they were being taken to the bush, with the bandits allegedly going away with 166 victims.
The reports quoted a member of the Kaduna State House of Assembly representing Kajuru, Usman Stingo, and the factional chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Rev. Joseph Hayab as confirming the incident.
However, while addressing journalists on Monday evening at the Government House, the Kaduna state Police Commissioner, Alhaji Muhammad Rabiu, described the reports as “mere falsehood which is being peddled by conflict entrepreneurs who want to cause chaos in Kaduna State.”
The police commissioner challenged anyone to list the names of the kidnapped victims and other particulars.
He warned rumour mongers to desist from trying to derail the prevailing peace in Kaduna State, threatening that the full wrath of the law would be visited on such merchants of falsehood.
Also speaking, the Chairman of Kajuru Local Government Area, Dauda Madaki, said he mobilised the police and other security forces to Kurmin Wali community after hearing rumours of the attack, but found that there was no attack.
The council chairman said, “We visited the church where the so called kidnap took place. There was no evidence of the attack. I asked the village head, Mai Dan Zaria, and he said that there was no such attack.
‘’I also called the youth leader of the area, Bernard Bona, who was interviewed by the press men that accompanied me, and he said that no such thing happened.
‘’So, I challenge anyone to name the people that were kidnapped and I have been waiting for this list and no one has come forward with a name.
‘’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 since the coming of this administration,’’ he added.
He advised residents of the area to remain calm, go about their lawful businesses, and report any suspicious movements and rumour mongers to security agents.
Also commenting, the Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Sule Shuaibu (SAN), said the state CAN chairman and other religious leaders interacted with people in the area where the so called kidnap occurred.
‘’They found out that what was pushed out to the public sphere was completely false,’’ he said, adding that the ‘’Kaduna State Government has zero tolerance for criminality.’’
Police, council chairman, deny reports on abduction of over 150 worshippers in Kaduna churches
