The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has condemned what it described as a failed attempt by the Kaduna State Government and the Nigeria Police Force to cover up the mass abduction of worshippers in Kurmin Wali, Kajuru Local Government Area of the state.
The party said the initial denial of the incident, which was later confirmed after public outrage, reflected an “unhealthy obsession with public relations” by governments controlled by the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a statement to Naijaonpoint signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC warned that the episode raised serious concerns about the credibility of governments whose first response to insecurity was to suppress information.
“This episode raises a fundamental and dangerous question for our country: can a government whose first instinct is to withhold information and hide the truth be trusted to protect lives and improve security?” the party asked.
The ADC insisted that the denial of a verified mass abduction was not a communication lapse but a deliberate act.
“The deliberate denial of a verified mass abduction is not a communications error. It is the behaviour of a government obsessed with looking good rather than solving problems,” the statement read.
According to the opposition party, truth remains the first line of defence during security emergencies, noting that suppression of facts worsens danger and delays rescue efforts.
“In moments of violence and emergency, truth is the first line of defence. It guides response, enables rescue, mobilises communities, and reassures a frightened public,” the ADC stated.
“When a government chooses silence or falsehood, it compounds danger, delays action, and deepens trauma. A government that lies during a security crisis does not merely fail its people; it actively places them at further risk.”
The party also expressed concern over reports that journalists and civil society organisations were prevented from accessing the affected communities.
“Credible reports that journalists, civil society actors, and independent observers were prevented from accessing affected communities make us wonder what exactly the government was attempting to hide,” the statement said.
The ADC argued that governments genuinely interested in solving security challenges would encourage information flow rather than suppress it.
The ADC further said the incident had exposed contradictions in what it described as Kaduna State’s so-called peace strategy.
While authorities were quick to deny the kidnapping to protect the image of peace, the party noted that senior government officials had openly acknowledged negotiating with bandits and making concessions to criminal elements.
“This approach may grant immediate wins, but it is not sustainable; it is a dangerous gamble that rewards criminality while leaving law-abiding citizens vulnerable to further attacks,” the party stated.
The opposition party also criticised the Federal Government for what it described as “stone silence” over the abduction of Christian worshippers.
“This silence does not only suggest a lack of empathy; it indicates a government that is frustrated and has therefore chosen denial and silence,” the statement said.
According to the ADC, silence was not a security strategy but a sign of irritation that the government’s public image was being undermined by the reality of persistent insecurity.
The ADC called for immediate and transparent rescue efforts for all abducted persons in Kurmin Wali and across Kaduna State.
It also demanded an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the initial denial of the abduction, including the roles played by government and security officials in disseminating false information.
The party further urged authorities to lift all restrictions placed on journalists and civil society organisations seeking access to conflict-affected areas.
In addition, the ADC demanded full disclosure of any agreements or negotiations entered into with armed groups, including their legal basis and oversight mechanisms.
“No Nigerian should ever have to beg their government to acknowledge their suffering,” the ADC said.
“No family should be forced to prove that their loved ones have been taken by violence before the state will act.”