Police Make U-Turn Confirm Abduction Of Worshippers In Kaduna

The Nigeria Police Force has confirmed the raid on churches at Kurmin Wali, a remote community in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

It would be recalled that  over  100 worshippers were abducted during the attack at the weekend.

But the police and government authorities had initially denied the incident, a move that generated outrage.

In a statement on Tuesday, Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, said the incident initially generated uncertainty after some individuals from the affected local government area disputed early reports during a meeting of the Kaduna State Security Council convened by Governor Uba Sani at the Government House in Kaduna.

Hundeyin said the meeting was held shortly after the police received the initial report of the abduction.

According to the police, the conflicting accounts underscored the need for caution and thorough verification before issuing definitive public statements on the sensitive matter.

He explained that comments made by the Commissioner of Police, Kaduna State Command, during a media interaction were intended to prevent public panic while investigations were ongoing, and were not a denial of the incident.

“Subsequent verification from operational units and intelligence sources has confirmed that the incident did occur,” the police said.

Following the confirmation, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, ordered the full deployment of critical operational and intelligence assets to Kajuru and surrounding communities.

The measures include the deployment of tactical units, intensified patrols, and targeted search-and-rescue operations aimed at locating and safely rescuing the victims, as well as restoring calm to the area.

The police appealed to members of the public and the media to exercise patience and cooperate with security agencies, urging them to rely on official communications for verified information and to avoid speculation or sensational reporting that could compromise ongoing operations.