Kaduna Police makes U-turn, confirm abd¥ction of churchgoers from three churches

 

The Nigeria Police have admitted that worshippers were abd¥cted during an att+ck on three churches in Kurmin Wali community, Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, reversing an earlier denial.

The admission was contained in a Tuesday night statement by police spokesperson Benjamin Hundeyin, following public backlash over the initial dismissal of the incident. The police said the new position came after further verification from operational units and intelligence sources.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide Nigeria (CSW-N) had earlier reported that terrorists attacked while church services were ongoing. 

In a statement signed by its spokesperson, Reuben Buhari, CSW-N named the affected churches as Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), Albarka Cherubim and Seraphim 1, and Haske Cherubim and Seraphim 2.

Prior to the reversal, the Kaduna State government and the police had disputed the reports, challenging the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to provide evidence. 

Addressing journalists on Monday after a security meeting, the Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, Muhammad Rabiu, described the reports as a “falsehood,” while the chairperson of Kajuru Local Government, Dauda Madaki, also denied that any att+ck occurred.

In its latest statement, the police explained that conflicting accounts from individuals in the affected area created uncertainty and required further checks. The police said earlier remarks were aimed at preventing panic while investigations continued, not a complete denial of the abduction.

The incident reportedly prompted Governor Uba Sani to convene a meeting of the Kaduna State Security Council. The police said efforts are ongoing to rescue the victims and restore normalcy.

According to the statement, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered the deployment of additional tactical and intelligence assets, including intensified patrols and targeted search-and-rescue operations. 

The police urged the public and media to rely on official information to avoid spreading fear or disrupting ongoing security efforts.