The police have confirmed that an abduction indeed occurred at Kurmin Wali, a remote community in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, after days of controversy, denials, and conflicting accounts surrounding the incident.
In a press statement issued late Tuesday night -yesterday, January 20 – and signed by Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, the police acknowledged public anxiety generated by earlier reports of a mass abduction in the area and explained that initial contradictions stemmed from disputes over facts during preliminary assessments.
According to the police, upon receiving the initial report, the Kaduna State Governor convened a meeting of the State Security Council at the Government House in Kaduna, during which some individuals from the affected local government challenged the police’s earlier confirmation of the incident, describing the reports as false.
This disagreement, the police said, necessitated cautious communication and thorough verification before making definitive public statements.
The Force clarified that comments earlier made by the Commissioner of Police, Kaduna State Command, during a media interaction were aimed at preventing public panic while field reports were being verified, stressing that those remarks were widely misinterpreted as a denial of the incident.
“Subsequent verification from operational units and intelligence sources has now confirmed that the incident did occur,” the statement said.
Following this confirmation, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun ordered the immediate deployment of critical operational and intelligence assets to Kajuru and surrounding communities.
The police said coordinated security operations are ongoing, involving tactical units, intensified patrols, targeted search-and-rescue missions, and other proactive measures to protect lives and property.
The Force assured Nigerians that efforts are focused on locating and safely rescuing the victims while restoring calm in the affected area.
The Force also appealed to the public and the media to exercise patience and rely solely on official communications for verified information, warning that speculation and sensational reporting could jeopardise ongoing operations and heighten public fear.
“The Nigeria Police Force remains fully committed to the safety of all citizens and will continue to provide updates as developments unfold,” Hundeyin, said.
The confirmation marks a major shift from earlier positions by both the Kaduna State government and security officials, who had initially dismissed reports that over 100 worshippers were abducted by terrorists in Kajuru Local Government Area.
At the time, the Commissioner of Police in Kaduna State, Alhaji Muhammad Rabiu, described the reports as “mere falsehood” allegedly peddled by “conflict entrepreneurs” seeking to destabilise the State.
Speaking after a State Security Council meeting at Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, Rabiu challenged those spreading the reports to produce names and details of the alleged victims, warning that rumour mongers would face the full wrath of the law.
Similarly, the Chairman of Kajuru Local Government Area, Dauda Madaki, said security officials visited Kurmin Wali and found no evidence of an attack, citing assurances from the village head, Mai Dan Zaria, and the area’s youth leader, Bernard Bona, both of who reportedly denied that any abduction took place.
Madaki had also alleged that the rumour was sponsored by individuals unhappy with the relative peace in Kajuru, urging residents to remain calm and report suspicious movements to security agencies.
In the same vein, the Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Sule Shuaibu (SAN), said interactions with religious leaders, including the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), indicated that the reports were false, while reiterating the Kaduna State Government’s zero tolerance for criminality.
However, the Police’s latest confirmation has effectively overridden those earlier denials, reinforcing concerns about security in the area and placing renewed focus on the ongoing rescue and stabilisation efforts in Kajuru.
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