Kaduna Abduction Denial: Group Demands Apology from Police, Local Official

In response to their alleged denial of the kidnapping of 166 worshippers in the Kurmin Wali community of Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, the Adara Development Association (ADA), an umbrella organization for the Adara ethnic nationality, has demanded a public apology from Muhammad Rabiu, the Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, and Dauda Madaki, the Chairman of Kajuru Local Government Area.

In response to the Nigeria Police Force’s Abuja headquarters confirming the occurrence, the association issued a statement demanding an apology.

On Monday, the chairman of the Kajuru council and the commissioner of the Kaduna state police disputed that the incident had occurred, calling it “mere falsehood which is being peddled by conflict entrepreneurs who want to cause chaos in Kaduna State.”

During a news conference on Monday at Government House in Kaduna, Rabiu challenged anyone to provide a list of the names and other details of the abducted victims.

He said that those who spread rumors would face the full force of the law if they attempted to sabotage the current state of peace in Kaduna.

Madaki, for his part, stated that after hearing rumors of an attack, he mobilized the police and other security forces to the village, only to discover that there had been no attack.

“We went to the church where the alleged kidnapping occurred. The attack was not visible. Mai Dan Zaria, the chief of the community, told me there had not been an attack.

The “I also called the local youth leader, Bernard Bona, who was questioned by the journalists who went with me. He said that nothing of the sort had occurred.

The “I’ve been waiting for this list and no one has come forth with a name, therefore I’m challenging anyone to identify the folks who were abducted.

He had stated at the press conference, “I think that the rumor 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.”

The Christian Association of Nigeria, the Christian Association of Nigeria’s Kaduna State chapter (CAN), Christian Solidarity Worldwide Nigeria (CSW N), and other organizations responded sharply to their remarks, claiming that more than 100 worshippers had been kidnapped by bandits during Sunday worship.

But on Tuesday, the Nigerian Police Force acknowledged the kidnapping in an Abuja statement, ending the issue.

In order to aid in the victims’ rescue, Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun ordered the deployment of tactical units and increased patrols in the region, according to a statement signed by Force Public Relations Officer Benjamin Hundeyin.

However, Chief Sebastine Barde, the President of ADA, claimed yesterday that the Council Chairman and the Commissioner of Police visited the village and obtained firsthand information from

locals, only to subsequently dispute that no one was kidnapped.

He presented what he called “a misleading and painful narrative that no abduction took place” and accused them of purposefully hiding the truth.

Barde also claimed that no prompt or efficient action was taken to save the victims.

He claimed that instead of recognizing the seriousness of the issue, both officials openly rejected confirmed information as rumors purportedly spread by so-called conflict entrepreneurs.

He called it regrettable that the council chairman, a native of the region, sided with those who tried to hide the catastrophe.

The notion that “the chairman, an indigene of Afogo Ward, would participate in suppressing facts instead of mobilizing urgently for the rescue of innocent citizens and the provision of necessary support” is especially troubling, according to Barde.

According to him, ADA has officially provided a detailed list of the 166 people who are being kept captive.

He claimed that Governor Uba Sani’s public remarks and demeanor were in stark contrast to the actions of the council chairman and the police commissioner.

“Their actions reflected those of overzealous officials who should be firmly reprimanded and called to order,” he said.

Barde claimed that “a complete absence of empathy and compassion toward peaceful and underprivileged citizens subjected to extreme trauma” had no logical explanation.

He stated it is serious and unacceptable to ignore the victims’ pain.

According to the statement, “the association demanded that the Chairman of Kajuru Local Government and the Commissioner of Police publicly apologize to the Adara people for purposefully suppressing the truth.”

Governor Uba Sani was also urged by the organization to “show moral leadership by taking decisive steps in the matter.”

In order to secure the release of the kidnapped worshippers and guarantee the safety of vulnerable Adara villages, the organization urged the federal government, the state government of Kaduna, and public-minded citizens to act immediately.

According to Barde, the kidnappers have not yet contacted the community.

Elder Sunday Oibe of the Christian Association (CAN) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the 19 Northern States also reacted, stating that it was distressing that the police commissioner and council chairman denied that the incident had occurred.

“We denounced the regrettable event that took place in Kajuru.

The Kajuru council chairman and the police commissioner’s statement that the stories of the kidnappings were untrue hurt us.

“This problem of living in denial is the reason Nigeria is where we are.We believe that to be a careless behavior, and we denounce it,” Oibe stated.

However, he pointed out that the police had improved their reputation since the force headquarters released a statement acknowledging that the incident indeed occurred.

“No one prays for incidents like this to happen, but when they do, we should be open and come together to handle the situation,” Oibe continued. That’s the best course of action.

“We are pleased that the incidence was acknowledged by the Abuja police headquarters.

“We are urging the police and other pertinent security organizations to make every effort to guarantee the victims’ safe return home. We are concerned about that.