The Nigeria Police Force has confirmed that a mass abduction occurred in Kurmin Wali community, Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, hours after earlier dismissing reports of the incident.
Gunmen reportedly stormed three churches in the community on Sunday during worship services, abducting scores of worshippers and triggering widespread concern. Initial police statements on Monday had described the reports as false, accusing unnamed “conflict entrepreneurs” of spreading misinformation to incite fear and destabilise the state.
The denial was immediately challenged by Christian Solidarity Worldwide–Nigeria (CSW-N), which insisted the kidnappings took place. The rights group also alleged that security operatives blocked its team from accessing Kurmin Wali during an attempted fact-finding visit, despite presenting valid identification.
Adding to the conflicting accounts, a member of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Usman Danlami Stingo, said at least 168 people were missing following the attack. Similarly, the chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Northern Nigeria, Reverend John Hayab, said 172 worshippers were taken during the church raids. He disclosed that nine victims later escaped, leaving about 163 people still unaccounted for.
Residents of the community said the attackers later contacted locals with unusual demands, insisting on the return of 10 motorcycles allegedly hidden in nearby bushes as a condition for the captives’ release. Community members said they were unaware of the motorcycles’ whereabouts and lamented that repeated attacks had already plunged the area into extreme poverty.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, clarified that the confusion stemmed from deliberations at a Kaduna State Security Council meeting convened by Governor Uba Sani. According to him, some representatives from Kajuru Local Government Area disputed the abduction claims during the meeting, leading to initial miscommunication.
Hundeyin explained that comments earlier attributed to the state commissioner of police were meant to prevent panic while verification was ongoing and were not intended to deny that an incident had occurred.
“Subsequent verification from operational units and intelligence sources has confirmed that the incident did occur,” the police spokesman said.
He disclosed that the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered the immediate deployment of tactical units and intelligence assets to Kajuru and neighbouring communities. The operation, he said, includes intensified patrols, targeted search-and-rescue missions, and other proactive measures to safeguard lives and property.
Hundeyin urged the public and the media to rely on official police channels for verified information and to avoid speculation that could hinder rescue efforts, assuring that further updates would be provided as investigations continue.
The Kurmin Wali attack is the latest in a growing wave of mass kidnappings across northern and central Nigeria, where armed groups commonly referred to as bandits routinely raid communities and abduct civilians for ransom. In November, more than 300 students and teachers were kidnapped from a Catholic school in Niger State, with dozens later escaping and others released weeks after the incident.
