Abductions: PDP’s Ashiru Slams Kaduna Government, Accuses Governor Sani Of Denial, Failed Leadership

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the 2023 elections in Kaduna State, Rt. Hon. Isa Mohammed Ashiru, has condemned the abduction of 177 worshippers from three churches in Kurmin Wali, Afogo Ward, Kajuru Local Government Area of the State, describing the incident as a glaring failure of governance and leadership.

In a press statement issued on Wednesday, Ashiru said the incident was “not merely a tragic security lapse” but “a damning indictment of a failed governance architecture,” stressing that the abduction from a place of worship represented “a moral collapse of the state’s primary responsibility; to protect lives and property.”

Ashiru also criticised Governor Uba Sani over what he described as an initial denial of the incident, despite reports of missing persons from the affected community.

“More disturbing is Governor Uba Sani’s disgraceful attempt to deny the abduction while fully aware that families were already counting their missing loved ones,” Ashiru said. “That denial was not a mistake; it was a betrayal. It was a conscious decision to insult the pain of Kurmin Wali, to gaslight an entire community, and to prioritize political optics over human lives.”

He added that, “This is not leadership; it is abdication,” accusing the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government in the state of lacking “credibility, competence, and compassion.”

The former governorship candidate further questioned the capacity of the current administration to guarantee security across the state.

“Let it be said clearly and without apology: a government that cannot secure churches, villages, highways, or farms cannot be trusted with the future,” he stated, urging Kaduna residents to reflect on their safety and welfare under the present leadership.

Ashiru described the incident as a product of “bad governance,” insisting that the people of Kaduna State “deserve better than excuses, better than propaganda, and better than a governor who goes silent when leadership is most required.”

While offering prayers for the abducted worshippers, he noted that spiritual support alone was insufficient. “We pray fervently for the safe and immediate return of every abducted worshipper. Our hearts stand with Kurmin Wali. But prayers alone are not a security strategy,” he said.

Looking ahead to the next general election cycle, Ashiru called for change, saying, “In 2027, Kaduna must end this cycle of failure. The future demands courage, accountability, and decisive leadership. Never again should incompetence be rewarded with power. Enough is enough.”