The Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the Northern Region, Rev. Joseph Hayab, has criticised security agencies for initially denying the reported abduction of worshippers in Kaduna State, describing their response as disappointing and damaging to public trust.
Rev Hayab spoke hours after the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) confirmed that the kidnapping incident had indeed taken place in Kurmin Wali community, Kajuru Local Government Area.
Speaking to journalist the cleric faulted the early reactions of the Kaduna State Police Command and other security agencies.
“The manner the police commissioner and other security agencies came out to outrightly say that this thing did not happen, to me, it’s a total disappointment, a total failure, and it has just increased the lack of trust that exists between the people and those who are securing them,” Hayab said.
Reports of the abduction first surfaced with claims that more than 100 worshippers were kidnapped by armed men during attacks in the community. However, the Kaduna State Government and security agencies initially dismissed the reports as false.
Days later, the Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed that the incident had occurred.
“Verification from operational units and intelligence sources has confirmed that the incident did occur,” Hundeyin said in a statement.
He explained that the earlier comments by the Kaduna Police Command were not intended to deny the incident but to avoid public panic.
“Those remarks, which have since been widely misinterpreted, were not a denial of the incident but a measured response pending confirmation of details from the field, including the identities and number of those affected,” he added.
Despite this clarification, Hayab insisted that the initial denial had negatively affected rescue efforts.
“Look at the time they were using in denial. That time they were supposed to be using for pursuing the bandits, but they chose to allow the bandits to have gone far before acknowledging that the information we gave them was true,” he said.
The Kaduna abduction is the latest in a growing wave of mass kidnappings across Nigeria, particularly in the northern region, where armed groups frequently target communities, schools, and religious gatherings.
Residents and civil society groups continue to call for improved security response, better intelligence sharing, and faster action when incidents are reported.
