Police U-Turn on Kaduna church mass abduction raises credibility questions

Nigeria’s security agencies are facing renewed scrutiny after police confirmed the abduction of Christian worshippers from churches in Kaduna State, days after officials cast doubt on reports of the incident.

The reversal has reinforced concerns about the reliability of official information during security crises in the country.

The Nigeria Police Force said early Wednesday that it had verified the abduction of worshippers from Kurmin Wali, a remote community in Kajuru local government area, following further intelligence and operational reports. The confirmation came after the police earlier in the week denied the attack.

Before the U-turn, Amnesty International accused the police and the Kaduna state government of “desperate denial”, warning that conflicting official statements often delay rescue efforts and erode public trust.

“The latest mass abduction clearly shows President Bola Tinubu and his government have no effective plan for ending years of atrocities by armed groups and gunmen that killed thousands of people,” the rights organization said.

“Whatever security measures being implemented by President Tinubu and his government are clearly not working.”

In a statement, police said initial remarks by the Kaduna state commissioner of police were intended to prevent panic while facts were being verified, citing disagreements at a meeting of the Kaduna State Security Council where some local representatives disputed early reports. Police said this uncertainty necessitated caution before making “conclusive public statements.”

Subsequent verification, the force said, confirmed that the abductions did occur, triggering the deployment of tactical units, intelligence assets and search-and-rescue operations under the directive of Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun.

“Subsequent verification from operational units and intelligence sources has confirmed that the incident did occur,” spokesperson Benjamin Hundeyin said.

Rights groups and community leaders say the episode highlights a recurring problem in Nigeria’s handling of insecurity: official reluctance to acknowledge incidents, and delay in responding to crises.

Amnesty said residents told its investigators that gunmen moved from church to church during worship services on Sunday, abducting congregants including women, children and pregnant worshippers. The organisation said armed groups continue to operate with “near total impunity” in rural parts of northern Nigeria.

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the north said at least 172 worshippers were kidnapped, with nine later escaping. Reverend John Hayab, head of CAN in the northern region, told Arise TV that 163 people remain missing. He said conflicting statements from local officials compounded confusion and mistrust.

“Instead of saying nothing happened, the proper response should have been to investigate further,” Hayab said, adding that church networks had verified the incident independently before speaking publicly.

Such breakdowns in communication are common in Nigeria, where multiple layers of authority – local councils, state governments, police and military – often issue uncoordinated or contradictory accounts.

In politically sensitive cases involving religion or mass abductions, officials typically downplay events to avoid panic or backlash.

Repeated Attacks

The Kaduna case comes against a backdrop of persistent mass kidnappings across northern Nigeria. In November, armed gangs abducted more than 300 students and teachers from a Catholic school in Niger State, underscoring the scale of the threat.

Nigeria, roughly split between a mostly Christian south and a Muslim-majority north, faces overlapping security challenges driven by criminal gangs, insurgents and communal tensions.

International attention intensified after U.S. President Donald Trump repeatedly raised concerns about attacks on Christians, placing Abuja under diplomatic pressure.

In late December, the United States carried out airstrikes against armed groups in northwestern Sokoto State with Nigeria’s approval, marking a rare escalation in foreign involvement.