The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has confirmed the abduction
of over 100 worshippers in the Kurmin Wali community in the Kajuru LGA of
Kaduna state, 24 hours after denying the report.
On Sunday, gunmen attacked three churches in the community
and whisked away about 167 worshippers.
However, on Monday, the Kaduna police command dismissed the
report as a falsehood spread by “conflict entrepreneurs” seeking to disrupt the
state’s relative peace.
Speaking during a press briefing in Kaduna, Muhammad Rabiu,
the state’s commissioner of police, challenged those spreading the reports to
provide names and details of the victims, insisting that there was no record of
such abductions.
Following police denial, Christian Solidarity
Worldwide–Nigeria (CSW-N), a human rights group, said the abductions took place
and accused security operatives of obstructing efforts to independently verify
the incident.
The group accused security personnel of preventing its team
from accessing the community during a fact-finding visit, despite presenting
proper identification.
‘TACTICAL UNITS, INTELLIGENT ASSETS DEPLOYED TO RESCUE
VICTIMS’
However, in a statement on Tuesday, Benjamin Hundeyin, the
force public relations officer, said the initial confusion followed a meeting
of the Kaduna state security council convened by Uba Sani, governor of the
state.
Hundeyin said some individuals from Kajuru LGA disputed the
abduction claims during the meeting, describing them as false.
He said comments made by the commissioner of police during a
media interaction were aimed at preventing panic while verification was ongoing
and were not intended to deny the incident.
“Subsequent verification from operational units and
intelligence sources has confirmed that the incident did occur,” the statement
reads.
Following the confirmation, Hundeyin said Kayode Egbetokun,
inspector-general of police (IGP), ordered the deployment of tactical units and
intelligence assets to Kajuru and surrounding communities.
He noted that the deployment includes intensified patrols,
targeted search-and-rescue operations, and proactive measures to protect lives
and property.
Hundeyin urged the public and media to rely on official
police communication for verified information and to avoid speculation that
could undermine ongoing rescue efforts.
He added that the police would provide updates as
developments unfold.
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