Kaduna Police Debunk Report of Abduction of Worshippers in Kajuru

Kaduna Police Debunk Report of Abduction of Worshippers in Kajuru
Security agencies find no evidence of any kidnapping.
Kaduna government warns rumour mongers of prosecution.

The Kaduna State Command of the Nigeria Police Force has dismissed reports claiming that over 100 worshippers were abducted by bandits during a church service in Kajuru Local Government Area, describing the story as false and deliberately fabricated to cause panic.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the report had alleged that worshippers were kidnapped on Sunday at Kurmin Wali village during a church service. However, speaking to journalists after a State Security Council meeting at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House on Monday, the Commissioner of Police, Muhammad Rabiu, denied the claim in strong terms.

Rabiu described the report as the handiwork of what he called “conflict entrepreneurs” bent on destabilising the state and undermining the prevailing peace.

“I challenge anyone making this claim to provide the names of the kidnapped persons and other relevant particulars,” the police commissioner said.

He warned that those spreading false information would be dealt with according to the law.

“Anyone found spreading such falsehood with the intention of causing chaos will face the full wrath of the law,” Rabiu added.

Also speaking, the Chairman of Kajuru Local Government Area, Dauda Madaki, said he immediately mobilised security agencies to Kurmin Wali upon hearing the report, only to discover that no such incident had taken place.

“When we heard about the so called attack, I mobilised the police and other security agencies to Kurmin Wali. We visited the church where the kidnap allegedly took place, and there was no evidence of any attack,” Madaki said.

He added that the village head, Mai Dan Zaria, and the youth leader of the area, Bernard Bona, both denied any knowledge of a kidnapping.

“I asked the village head and he confirmed that no such attack occurred,” he said.

Madaki suggested that the rumour may have been sponsored by individuals unhappy with the relative peace in Kajuru.

In his reaction, the Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Sule Shuaibu SAN, said religious leaders, including the chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, visited the area and confirmed that the report was false.

He assured residents that the state government remains committed to security and urged the public to disregard unverified information.