The Nigeria Police Force has confirmed that a mass abduction incident did occur in Kurmin Wali community, Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, reversing its earlier position that reports of the attack were false.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin and seen by Dockaysworld, the police said fresh verification from operational units and intelligence sources established that residents of the community were indeed kidnapped.
The police explained that the confusion surrounding the incident followed conflicting accounts presented during an emergency meeting of the Kaduna State Security Council convened by Governor Uba Sani.
According to the statement, some individuals from the affected local government area disputed the initial report at the meeting, describing it as false, which prompted the police to exercise caution while facts were being verified.
“As a result, comments made by the Commissioner of Police, Kaduna State Command, during a media interaction were intended to prevent unnecessary panic,” the statement said.
It added that that the remarks were not a denial of the incident but a response pending confirmation of details, including the identities and number of victims.
The clarification comes after police and state officials had earlier dismissed reports that worshippers were abducted from churches in Kurmin Wali.
They described the claims as false and challenging the public to provide names of victims.
Local government authorities had also said security operatives found no evidence of an attack when they visited the area.
However, community leaders had insisted that armed men stormed Kurmin Wali on Sunday and kidnapped scores of residents from multiple churches, with some victims reportedly escaping and others sustaining injuries.
Following the latest confirmation, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered the deployment of tactical and intelligence assets to Kajuru and surrounding communities.
The police said coordinated operations involving multiple security agencies are now underway, with a focus on rescuing the victims and restoring calm.
The Force appealed to the public and the media to rely on official updates and avoid speculation that could undermine ongoing operations or heighten public anxiety, assuring that further updates would be provided as the situation develops.
Meanwhile, former Labour Party Presidential candidate Peter Obi, has condemned the kidnappings and called on the government to fix the state of security in the nation.