Wednesday, January 21, 2026 - The Nigeria Police Force has confirmed the abduction of over 100 church goers in Kurmin Wali, a remote community in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
Over the weekend, there were reports that unknown gunmen
stormed the community and abducted over 100 worshippers during service. Amidst
the panic following the report, the state Commissioner of Police. Muhammad
Rabiu, dismissed the report saying nothing of such happened.
However, in a statement released on Tuesday, January 20, the
Force spokesperson, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, said facts have now emerged that the
abduction indeed occurred.
The Nigeria
Police Force acknowledges the deep concern generated by reports of an abduction
incident at Kurmin Wali, a remote community in Kajuru Local Government Area of
Kaduna State. The Force understands the fear and anxiety such reports cause to
families, residents, and the general public, and treats the safety of every
citizen as a matter of utmost priority.
Upon
receiving the report, the Kaduna State Security Council was convened by the
Governor.
During the
meeting at the Government House, Kaduna, some individuals from the affected
local government area disputed the report, which had earlier been confirmed by
the Police, and described it as false. This created uncertainty and reinforced
the need for caution and thorough verification by the Police and other security
agencies before making conclusive public statements on such a sensitive matter.
In this
context, comments made by the Commissioner of Police, Kaduna State Command,
during a media interaction were intended to prevent unnecessary panic while
facts were being confirmed. Those remarks, which have since been widely
misinterpreted, were not a denial of the incident but a measured response
pending confirmation of details from the field, including the identities and
number of those affected.
Subsequent
verification from operational units and intelligence sources has confirmed that
the incident did occur. The Nigeria Police Force therefore activated
coordinated security operations, working closely with other security agencies,
with a clear focus on locating and safely rescuing the victims and restoring
calm to the area.
The
Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, PhD, NPM, has directed the full
deployment of critical operational and intelligence assets to Kajuru and
surrounding communities. These efforts include deployment of tactical units as
well as intensified patrols already in place, targeted search-and-rescue
operations, and proactive measures to protect lives and property''the statement
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