The Nigeria Police Force has confirmed that an abduction incident did occur in Kurmin Wali community, Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, following days of denial, confusion, and conflicting accounts from officials and community representatives.
In a statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, the police acknowledged that the incident—initially disputed during a meeting of the Kaduna State Security Council convened by Governor Uba Sani—was verified after further investigation.
“Subsequent verification from operational units and intelligence sources has confirmed that the incident did occur,” Hundeyin said.
According to the police, uncertainty arose after some individuals from the affected local government area dismissed the reports as false, prompting security agencies to carry out additional checks before making a definitive public statement.
The clarification followed comments earlier made by the Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, Rabiu Muhammad, which were widely interpreted as a denial of the incident.
The Force explained that the remarks were intended to prevent public panic while details were still being verified.
However, intelligence assessments and field reports later confirmed that an abduction had indeed taken place.
In response, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered the immediate deployment of critical operational and intelligence assets to Kajuru and neighbouring communities.
Tactical units have been dispatched, patrols intensified, and targeted search-and-rescue operations launched to locate and safely recover the victims, while restoring calm in the area.
The police also urged the public and the media to rely solely on official sources for verified information, warning that speculation and misinformation could undermine ongoing security operations.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Northern Nigeria, Rev. John Hayab, had claimed that scores of worshippers were abducted in the community. These claims were initially dismissed as false by the Kaduna State Police Command and the state government.
Commissioner of Police Rabiu Muhammad publicly challenged anyone with evidence of the alleged abduction to present a list of the kidnapped persons and their details.
Similarly, the Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Sule Shuaibu, said consultations with CAN leadership at the state level and with community leaders indicated that the reports were “completely false.”
The police confirmation now contradicts those earlier assurances and underscores the challenges posed by misinformation, delayed verification, and public distrust in conflict-prone areas.
The Kurmin Wali incident is the latest in a troubling pattern of abductions across parts of Nigeria, further heightening concerns over insecurity and the safety of rural communities.
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