Nigerian Police Make U-Turn Over Abductions In Kaduna
The Nigeria Police Force has confirmed that an abduction incident indeed occurred at Kurmin Wali, a remote community in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State. This followed what it described as thorough verification and intelligence assessments, effectively reversing earlier public uncertainty surrounding the incident.
The confirmation was contained in a detailed statement issued on Tuesday by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, amid growing public concern over the safety situation in the area. According to the police, reports of the abduction at Kurmin Wali had generated deep fear and anxiety among residents, families of the affected persons and the general public, prompting the Force to treat the matter with utmost seriousness.
The statement read, “The Nigeria Police Force acknowledges the deep concern generated by reports of an abduction incident at Kurmin Wali, a remote community in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The Force understands the fear and anxiety such reports cause to families, residents, and the general public, and treats the safety of every citizen as a matter of utmost priority.” The Force explained that immediately the report was received, the Kaduna State Security Council was convened by the state governor. During the meeting, held at the Government House in Kaduna, some individuals from the affected local government area reportedly disputed the abduction report, despite earlier confirmation by the police, and described it as false.
This contradiction, the police said, created uncertainty around the incident and reinforced the need for caution and comprehensive verification by the Police and other security agencies before making any definitive public pronouncements on such a sensitive security matter. “In this context, comments made by the Commissioner of Police, Kaduna State Command, during a media interaction were intended to prevent unnecessary panic while facts were being confirmed.
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,” the Force clarified. The police noted that the commissioner’s remarks, which later sparked widespread controversy and accusations of denial, were widely misinterpreted.
According to the statement, the comments were not a denial of the incident but a cautious and measured response pending confirmation of details from the field, including the identities and number of persons affected by the abduction.
Following further checks, however, the Force said subsequent verification from operational units on ground and credible intelligence sources has now confirmed that the abduction did take place at Kurmin Wali. “With this confirmation, the Nigeria Police Force has activated coordinated security operations, working closely with other security agencies, with a clear focus on locating and safely rescuing the victims and restoring calm to the area,” the statement added.
The police said the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has since ordered the full deployment of critical operational and intelligence assets to Kajuru Local Government Area and surrounding communities. According to the police, the deployment includes tactical units, intensified patrols already in place, targeted search-and-rescue operations, and other proactive security measures aimed at protecting lives and property and preventing further attacks.
The Force also appealed to members of the public and the media to exercise patience and cooperate with security agencies as operations continue. “The public is encouraged to rely on official police communications for verified information and to avoid speculation or sensational reporting that could jeopardise ongoing operations or heighten public anxiety,” the statement warned.
Reaffirming its position, the Nigeria Police Force said it remains fully committed to the safety and security of all citizens and assured that updates would be provided as developments unfold in the Kajuru axis of Kaduna State. Kurmin Wali and other communities in Kajuru Local Government Area have, in recent years, remained vulnerable to attacks by armed groups, with residents frequently raising concerns over abductions and insecurity in the largely rural parts of southern Kaduna.
