… it’s a lie – Police
Bandits have raided churches in Kurmin Wali community in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, abducting over 170 worshippers.
According to witnesses, the attackers struck during church services on Sunday.
ECWA and Cherubim and Seraphim churches were affected by the attack.
Sources said nine vulnerable persons among the victims later returned home.
Rev. Joseph John Hayab, the Northern CAN Chairman, confirmed the attack to Newsmen, describing the incident as sad.
He said, “I don’t like talking about the figures but I got from the area is 172 were said to have been abducted and 9 managed to escape, with the remaining 163 people still with the abductors,” he said.
“It’s a very tough and sad thing but we will not give up. The security agencies and the government are making effort towards restoration of peace in Kaduna and we are happy with it.
“Whatever is the reason, we are not going to give up. We want to work with the security agencies and the government to ensure that these people return safely. We know the efforts that have been put in place by security and the government to ensure that there’s restoration of peace, so we cannot be accusing people.
”If they ( bandits) are doing it to provoke anger, they will be surprised. We’ll get our people back just as others have been coming back these days. These people will come back,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, Muhammad Rabiu, has described the reported kidnap of over 100 worshippers in Kajuru Local Government as a falsehood being peddled by conflict entrepreneurs seeking to create chaos in the state.
Conflicting reports on Monday claimed that over 100 people were abducted by bandits during a church service at Kurmin Wali village in Kajuru on Sunday.
However, addressing reporters after the State Security Council meeting at Sir Kashim Ibrahim House on Monday, the Commissioner of Police challenged anyone to provide the names of the alleged kidnapped victims and other particulars.
He warned those he described as rumour mongers to desist from attempting to derail the prevailing peace in Kaduna State, adding that the full wrath of the law would be visited on such merchants of falsehood.
Also speaking, the Chairman of Kajuru Local Government, Dauda Madaki, said that upon hearing the rumour of the attack, he mobilised the police and other security forces to Kurmin Wali, only to find that no attack had occurred.
“We visited the church where the so-called kidnap took place. There was no evidence of any attack. I asked the village head, Mai Dan Zaria, and he confirmed that no such attack occurred.
“I also called the youth leader of the area, Bernard Bona, who was interviewed by the press team that accompanied me, and he said that nothing of the sort happened.
“So, I challenge anyone to provide the names of the kidnapped individuals. I have been waiting for this list, but no one has come forward.
“I believe the rumour of the kidnap is being sponsored by people who are unhappy with the relative peace Kajuru has been enjoying since the coming of this administration,” he added.
He advised the people of the area to remain calm and go about their lawful businesses, urging them to report any suspicious movements or rumour mongers to security agents.
In his response, the Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Sule Shauibu (SAN), said that the CAN chairman and other religious leaders had interacted with the people of the area where the so-called kidnap allegedly occurred.
“They found out that what was circulated to the public was completely false,” he said, assuring that “Kaduna State Government has zero tolerance for criminality.”
