Kaduna Police Slam BBC Kidnap Report As Fake News, Brand Alarmists ‘Conflict Entrepreneurs”

The Kaduna State Police Command and local authorities have firmly dismissed reports alleging the abduction of over 100 worshippers in Kajuru Local Government Area, describing the claims as deliberate falsehoods aimed at destabilising the state’s relative peace.

Earlier on Monday, the BBC reported that armed gangs had kidnapped dozens of worshippers during Sunday services at two churches in Kurmin Wali, a forest community in Afogo ward of Kajuru LGA. The report quoted a senior church leader as claiming that more than 160 worshippers were abducted.

However, speaking after a state security council meeting at Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, the Commissioner of Police, Muhammad Rabiu, openly challenged those behind the reports to produce concrete evidence.
“Anyone who has evidence should come forward with the list of kidnapped persons and their particulars,” Rabiu said, warning that those spreading unverified reports would face the full weight of the law.

Backing the police position, the Chairman of Kajuru LGA, Dauda Madaki, said he immediately mobilised security operatives to the affected community after hearing the reports but found no trace of any attack.

“We visited the church where the so-called kidnap took place. There was no evidence of the attack,” Madaki stated.
He added that consultations with the village head, Mai Dan Zaria, and the community youth leader, Bernard Bona, further confirmed that no such incident occurred, as both leaders denied any attack in the presence of journalists.

Madaki challenged anyone with contrary claims to produce a list of victims, noting that none had been provided despite repeated calls. He blamed the rumour on individuals unhappy with the improved security situation in Kajuru under the current administration.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Sule Shuaibu, disclosed that religious leaders, including the Kaduna State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), had engaged with community members and verified that the reports were “completely false”.
Shuaibu reaffirmed the government’s zero-tolerance for criminality and urged residents to remain calm, continue their lawful activities, and promptly report suspicious movements or the spread of false information to security agencies.