The Nigeria Police Force has confirmed that an abduction incident did occur in Kurmin Wali community, Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, following days of denials, uncertainty, and conflicting reports.
In a statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, the police acknowledged that the incident, which generated widespread fear and anxiety, was initially disputed during a meeting of the Kaduna State Security Council convened by Governor Uba Sani.
“Subsequent verification from operational units and intelligence sources has confirmed that the incident did occur,” Hundeyin said.
According to the police, conflicting accounts from individuals within the affected local government area, some of whom dismissed the report as false, contributed to the uncertainty and necessitated further verification by security agencies.
The Force explained that earlier remarks by the Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, Rabiu Muhammad, which were widely interpreted as a denial, were intended to prevent public panic while investigations were ongoing. However, follow-up checks by operational units and intelligence sources later confirmed the abduction.
In response, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered the deployment of critical operational and intelligence assets to Kajuru and surrounding communities. Tactical units have been mobilised, patrols intensified, and targeted search-and-rescue operations launched to locate and safely rescue the victims, while restoring calm to the area.
The police also appealed to the public and the media to rely solely on official sources for verified information, warning that speculation could undermine ongoing operations.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the North, John Hayab, claimed that scores of worshippers were abducted in the community. However, both the Kaduna State Government and the police command initially described the reports as false, with CP Rabiu challenging anyone with evidence to present a list of the abducted persons and their details.
Similarly, the Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Sule Shuaibu, said engagements with CAN leaders at the state level and community representatives indicated that the reports were “completely false.”
The confirmation by the police comes amid growing concern over recurring mass abductions in parts of Nigeria, particularly in the North-West region.
