The Nigeria Police Force has confirmed that 160 worshippers were abducted from churches in Kurmin Wali, a hard-to-reach community in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, after completing verification of initial reports that had generated conflicting accounts
The incident was first reported on Sunday, when gunmen were said to have stormed two churches in the community during worship services and taken more than 160 people hostage. At the time, the figure was supplied by church officials, while the police said the details were still being checked.
According to Reverend Joseph Hayab, chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria in northern Nigeria, the attackers struck while services were ongoing. He explained that the gunmen entered the churches, sealed off escape routes, and herded worshippers into nearby bush paths.
Confusion surrounded the incident earlier on Monday after the Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, Muhammad Rabiu, dismissed reports of church abductions in Kajuru as “mere falsehoods which is being peddled by conflict entrepreneurs who want to cause chaos.”
However, later the same day, the Nigeria Police Force released a statement acknowledging public concern and clarifying why confirmation had taken time. The force spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, said, “The Nigeria Police Force acknowledges the deep concern generated by reports of an abduction incident at Kurmin Wali, a remote community in the Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.”
He added, “The Force understands the fear and anxiety such reports cause to families, residents, and the general public, and treats the safety of every citizen as a matter of utmost priority.”
Hundeyin disclosed that the verification process was complicated by disagreements from within the affected area itself. “During the meeting at the Government House, Kaduna, some individuals from the affected local government area disputed the report, which had earlier been confirmed by the police, and described it as false,” he said.
According to him, “This created uncertainty and reinforced the need for caution and thorough verification by the police and other security agencies before making conclusive public statements on such a sensitive matter.”
Clarifying the earlier comments made by the state police commissioner, Hundeyin stated, “Those remarks, which have since been widely misinterpreted, were not a denial of the incident but a measured response pending confirmation of details from the field, including the identities and number of those affected.”
He said the situation became clearer after further checks. “Subsequent verification from operational units and intelligence sources has confirmed that the incident did occur.”
Following the confirmation, Hundeyin said the police launched joint security actions. “The Nigeria Police Force therefore activated coordinated security operations, working closely with other security agencies, with a clear focus on locating and safely rescuing the victims and restoring calm to the area.”
He further revealed that the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, had ordered “the full deployment of critical operational and intelligence assets to Kajuru and surrounding communities.”
According to Hundeyin, the response includes “deployment of tactical units as well as intensified patrols already in place, targeted search-and-rescue operations, and proactive measures to protect lives and property.”
He said operations are ongoing and appealed to the public and the media to depend on official briefings, cautioning against “speculation or sensational reporting that could jeopardise ongoing operations or heighten public anxiety.”
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