RismadarVoice Reporters, January 20, 2026
The Kaduna State Government and the Kaduna State Police Command on Monday dismissed reports alleging that over 100 worshippers were abducted during attacks on two churches in Kajuru Local Government Area of the state, describing the claims as false, misleading, and capable of causing panic.
The denial followed widespread reports that suspected bandits had on Sunday stormed Cherubim and Seraphim Church 1 and Cherubim and Seraphim Church 2 in Kurmin Wali community, Kajuru LGA, and abducted worshippers during church services.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Northern Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. John Hayab, had raised alarm over the alleged incident.
“I received a distress call yesterday from the CAN chairman in that area that an unspecified number of residents of Kurmin Wali in Kajuru LGA were abducted from Cherubim and Seraphim Church 1 and Cherubim and Seraphim Church 2,” Hayab said.
According to him, the assailants allegedly stormed the churches while services were ongoing, locked the gates, and forcefully marched worshippers into the bush.
“As of today, 163 worshippers are still in the hands of the terrorists, while eight reportedly escaped,” Hayab added.
The CAN leader described the alleged attack as part of attempts to instil fear and provoke religious tension, vowing that such efforts would not succeed.
“This is very sad news, but it will not change our resolve to work with government and security agencies to bring this evil to a stop,” he said.
He called on the Federal Government, Kaduna State Government, and security agencies to intensify efforts to rescue the alleged abducted persons, noting that security operatives had already commenced action.
Police, Government Counter Claims
However, addressing journalists after a State Security Council meeting at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, the Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Muhammad Rabiu, categorically denied that any such abduction occurred.
Rabiu described the report as a fabrication being peddled by “conflict entrepreneurs” intent on destabilizing the state.
He challenged those spreading the claims to produce the names and particulars of the alleged victims, warning that rumour-mongering would not be tolerated.
“The full weight of the law will be brought to bear on anyone attempting to derail the prevailing peace in Kaduna State,” the police Commissioner warned.
Similarly, the Chairman of Kajuru Local Government Area, Dauda Madaki, said investigations by the council and security agencies revealed that no attack took place.
Madaki said he personally mobilised police officers and other security personnel to Kurmin Wali immediately after hearing the reports.
“We visited the church where the so-called kidnapping took place. There was no evidence of any attack,” he said.
He added that both the village head, Mai Dan Zaria, and the youth leader of the area, Bernard Bona, denied that any abduction occurred.
“I challenge anyone to name the people that were kidnapped. I have been waiting for this list and no one has come forward,” Madaki stated.
He suggested that the rumour may have been sponsored by individuals unhappy with the relative peace Kajuru has enjoyed in recent times and urged residents to remain calm and report suspicious activities to security agencies.
The Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Sule Shuaibu (SAN), also dismissed the claims, saying religious leaders who visited the community discovered that the information circulated was completely false.
“The Kaduna State Government has zero tolerance for criminality,” Shuaibu assured.
