At least 168 worshippers were kidnapped during church services in Kurmin Wali village, Afogo Ward of Kajuru Local Government Area, Kaduna State, on Sunday – yesterday, January 18.
Although there were conflicting figures on the incident – some claimed 168, some said 170 while some said 172 – more details are expected in days ahead.
The development came barely a week after the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the North, Rev John Joseph Hayab raised the alarm that terrorists were planning to attack Christian communities, to make a fool’ of the ongoing collaboration between the federal government and the United States to address the country’s ravaging insecurity.
The mass abduction allegedly occurred simultaneously in three churches – one Catholic Church, one Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) and one Cherubim and Seraphim – while worship was ongoing, according to multiple local sources.
Meanwhile, the Kaduna State Police Command and the Kajuru Local Government Council have dismissed the reports.
Speaking after a State Security Council meeting at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House late Monday, the Kaduna State Police Commissioner, Alhaji Muhammad Rabiu, described the reported kidnap of over 100 worshippers in Kajuru as a fabrication allegedly being spread by what he termed “conflict entrepreneurs” seeking to destabilise the state.
He challenged those making the claims to provide the names and details of the alleged victims, warning that the full weight of the law would be applied against rumour mongers.
Also speaking, the Chairman of Kajuru Local Government Area, Dauda Madaki, said security agencies were immediately mobilised to Kurmin Wali following the reports but found no evidence of any attack.
According to him, both the village head and youth leader of the community denied that any abduction took place.
Supporting the official position, the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Sule Shuaibu (SAN), said religious leaders, including officials of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), had visited the area and confirmed that the reports circulating in the public space were false.
However, the Chairman of CAN in the 19 Northern States and the Federal Capital Territory, Rev. John Joseph Hayab, maintained that the abduction did occur.
He said he received a distress call from the CAN chairman in Kajuru, reporting that worshippers were abducted from two Cherubim and Seraphim churches during Sunday services.
Hayab stated that eight victims escaped, while 163 others remain in captivity, adding that security agencies were already responding to the situation.
Another source in the area who spoke in confidence said, the abductions were true, even though the abductors did not destroy the structure as they used to do in the past.
