Police Make A U-Turn, Confirm Abductions In Kaduna Community

The Nigeria Police Force has confirmed that an abduction incident occurred at Kurmin Wali, a remote community in the  Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, following thorough verification and intelligence assessments.

The confirmation came after the  Commissioner of  Police, Kaduna State, Muhammad Rabiu, the commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Sule Shu’aibu, and a Local Government Chairman, Dauda Madaki, had  said on  Monday that no kidnapping occurred in Ungwan Wali.

But the Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev John Joseph Hayab, the President of Adara Development Association (ADA), Sabastine Barde and other leaders from the area said 177 people were kidnapped on Sunday while a few escaped.  The leaders said they had the names of the people who were kidnapped.

In a press statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, on Tuesday night, the police acknowledged public concern generated by initial reports of the incident, noting that such developments naturally cause fear and anxiety among residents and families.

Part of the statement read that “upon receipt of the initial report, the Kaduna State governor convened a meeting of the State Security Council at the Government House in Kaduna. During the meeting, some individuals from the affected local government area disputed the report, which had earlier been confirmed by the police, calling it false. This disagreement created uncertainty and underscored the need for caution and detailed verification by security agencies before issuing definitive public statements.”

The Force PRO also explained that comments made by the commissioner of police, Kaduna State Command, during a media interaction were aimed at preventing unnecessary panic while facts were being confirmed, noting that “the remarks, which were later misinterpreted by sections of the public, were not a denial of the incident but a preliminary response pending confirmation of details from the field, including the number and identities of those affected.

“Subsequent verification by operational units and intelligence sources has since confirmed that the abduction did take place. In response, the Nigeria Police Force activated coordinated security operations in collaboration with other security agencies, with the primary objective of locating and safely rescuing the victims while restoring calm to the affected area.”

Meanwhile, the inspector-general of police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered the full deployment of critical operational and intelligence assets to Kajuru and surrounding communities.

These measures include the deployment of tactical units, intensified patrols, targeted search-and-rescue operations, and proactive steps to protect lives and property.

The police appealed to the public and the media to exercise patience and cooperate with security agencies, urging reliance on official police communications for verified information. The Force also cautioned against speculation and sensational reporting, warning that such actions could undermine ongoing operations and heighten public anxiety.

The Nigeria Police Force assured Nigerians of its continued commitment to safeguarding lives and property and pledged to provide timely updates as the situation develops.

We Have The List Of 177 Worshippers Kidnapped In Kajuru – Northern CAN Chairman

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 Northern States and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, under the leadership of Rev. Joseph Hayab, has insisted that 177 worshippers were abducted by bandits from three churches in Kurmin Wali community, Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State on Sunday.

Hayab listed the three affected churches in the area as Cherubim and Seraphim 1 and 2, as well as Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA).

However, reacting to the government’s  initial denial of the incident, the Northern CAN chairman, Rev. Hayab, who appeared on African Independent Television (AIT) programme monitored by our correspondent in Kaduna on Tuesday, disclosed that he had the list of 177 kidnapped people in the area.

While commending Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, for his efforts in tackling security challenges across the state, Hayab clarified that his stance was not to ridicule the government and security agencies.

He appealed to the government to go after the bandits and rescue those in captivity.

Hayab stated, “My candid advice is that we must not allow security issues to be politicised. Nor should we come to the public space to make statements about security issues that do not help heal wounds, but rather make people have even more reason not to trust us. So I am advising the police, I am advising all those who have spoken, to be careful.

“We want to win the trust of Nigeria. We want to earn Nigerians’ confidence. I am not sure it is right for us to say things like this in the public media, but for the avoidance of doubt, if you listen to the local government chairman, he tactically admitted that there were bandits, but he just turned again and was not talking about kidnapping.

“He talked about the hospital. So that shows he was not really answering the question, because no one was saying anyone was in the hospital. We are simply saying that people were in church and were kidnapped.

“He asked if we had the list. This morning, we have the list of 177 people kidnapped.

“So we have the list. The police also know that they have the report wired to them. So I am not sure it is right for security issues to be politicised because it is like you do not care about the life of the mother of somebody, the father of somebody, the son of somebody, the friend of somebody. I do not want to belong to that.”

Hayab declared that, as a pastor and as a Christian, rather than tell lies on issues as grave as those affecting the lives of individuals, he would quit as a preacher.

He added that all he wanted was for the security agencies to go after the kidnappers, not for some government officials to come to the public and deny that kidnapping occurred in the church.

“We are talking about Nigerians that we know have been taken away. Let us tell our security agencies to go after them. We trust our governor.

“We appreciate the efforts of the security agencies. In the last week, they have actually helped us rescue some of our pastors, rescuing even the wife and daughter of the late venerable. We commend them, and we know they can also go after these people and rescue them.

“I have spoken to almost all of them today, since yesterday to this morning, drawing their attention to the facts and evidence available. And I think we do not have any controversy or disagreement about the facts available.”

Hayab applauded the state governor, Uba Sani, for his efforts at improving the security situation in the state.

“This governor is trying. The executives are trying. But in this matter, I think they did not get it right. So please let them go back to the drawing board, correct it and go after these criminals before they go too far with our people,” Hayab said.

Meanwhile, a resident of Kurmin Wali community, Kajuru Local Government Area, Jonathan Bauna, told our correspondent on the telephone how he escaped during the attack.

“On Sunday, 18 January 2026, we started our church service at 10am. Later on, we saw gunmen who surrounded the three churches and blocked all the entrance roads to the community. There was nowhere to run to. They kidnapped 177 people; later, 11 people escaped.

“When they were passing through streams, some people managed to escape because there were many people. I escaped from the church during the attack and ran to my house, and the bandits came and searched my house, but they did not see me. I hid at the back of my compound. They entered my house and searched everywhere, looking for me and money,” he said.

A community group, the Chikun/Kajuru Active Citizens Congress (CKACC), has strongly condemned the alleged mass abduction of 177 worshippers last Sunday.

A statement issued by Joshua Sarkinnoma Madami on behalf of the Chikun/Kajuru Active Citizens Congress listed the names of those kidnapped and demanded their safe release.

CKACC called on the Kaduna State Government and security agencies to investigate and bring the perpetrators to justice, urging citizens to remain calm and vigilant.

“This heinous act is unacceptable and demands immediate attention from the authorities.

“We stand in solidarity with the Christian community and demand the safe release of the abducted individuals. The chairperson of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Kajuru LGA, Reverend Enoch Kaura, has confirmed the incident, and we urge the government to take swift action,” the statement said.

The group went on to list the 177 victims of Sunday’s mass abduction.

On his part, President of the Adara Development Association, Sabastine Barde, who spoke with LEADERSHIP, promised to release the names of his kinsmen who were abducted but had yet to do so at the time of filing this report.

Kaduna State Police Command spokesperson, DSP Mansir Hassan, did not answer or return calls when contacted to react to the list of kidnapped victims.