Kaduna state government and state police command dismiss reports of abduction of 100 worshippers during church service

The Kaduna State Government and the Kaduna State Police Command have dismissed reports that over 100 worshippers were abducted during attacks on two churches in Kajuru Local Government Area of the state. There have been reports online claiming that suspected bandits stormed Cherubim and Seraphim Church 1 and Cherubim and Seraphim Church 2 in Kurmin Wali community, Kajuru LGA, and abducted worshippers during church services on Sunday, January 18. The Chairman of the Northern Christian Association of Nigeria, Rev. John Hayab, had also made the claim on Monday, January 19.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.  According to him, the assailants stormed the churches while services were in progress, locked the gates, and forcefully marched worshippers into the bush. As of today, 163 worshippers are still in the hands of the terrorists. 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. Those who have made it their plan to create fear in our members and provoke us have failed woefully. We are calling on government and security agencies to go out in full force to rescue our people. We will stand in solidarity and provide any useful information that will expose this evil.Security officers are already on top of the matter. We commend them and urge that they try everything possible to rescue our brothers and sisters safe and unhurt in good time” , Hayab said adding that eight of the abducted persons later escaped  However, the Kaduna State Police Commissioner, Muhammad Rabiu, has dismissed the reported abduction as a falsehood. Speaking to newsmen after the State Security Council meeting at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House on Monday, January 19, Rabiu said the report was being peddled by conflict entrepreneurs bent on causing chaos in the state. He challenged those spreading the report to provide the names and other particulars of the alleged victims.    Similarly, the Chairman of Kajuru Local Government Area, Dauda Madaki, said investigations carried out by the council and security agencies showed that no such attack occurred. According to him, he mobilised police officers and other security personnel to Kurmin Wali immediately after hearing about the alleged attack. We visited the church where the so-called kidnapping took place. There was no evidence of the attack,. I asked the village head, Mai Dan Zaria, and he said that there was no such attack. I also called the youth leader of the area, Bernard Bona, who was interviewed by the pressmen that accompanied me, and he said that no such thing happened.he said Madaki challenged anyone claiming otherwise to provide the identities of the alleged abducted persons.  So, I challenge anyone to name the people that were kidnapped and I have been waiting for this list and no one has come forward with a name. I believe that the rumour of the kidnap is being sponsored by people who are not happy with the relative peace that Kajuru has been enjoying since the coming of this administration.he said He advised residents of the area to remain calm and continue their lawful activities, urging them to report any suspicious movements or rumour mongers to security agencies. Also speaking, the state Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Sule Shuaibu (SAN), said that the CAN chairman and other religious leaders had interacted with residents of the community where the alleged kidnap was reported. They found out that what was pushed out to the public sphere was completely false he said  Shuaibu assured residents that the Kaduna State Government had zero tolerance for criminality.  The post Kaduna state government and state police command dismiss reports of abduction of 100 worshippers during church service appeared first on Linda Ikeji Blog.