Former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and prominent human rights lawyer, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, has down down heavily on the Kaduna State Police Command for dismissing reports of the abduction of worshippers from churches in Kajuru Local Government Area.

Odinkalu accused the police of attempting to suppress facts surrounding the incident, which has since been confirmed by the varied evidence in the public space.

Reacting via his verified X account on Tuesday, Odinkalu questioned the motive behind the police denial.

He shared video clips purportedly from the affected churches, showing overturned chairs and disrupted interiors, which he said were evidence of the attack.

“The #policeNG alone know whose & what script they are acting out in claiming to deny the #MassAbduction last Sunday of the #Kajuru177. Kaduna State CP, Muhammad Rabiu, has been to the community with his folks. He has seen the affected places of worship & personally spoken to survivors,” Odinkalu wrote.

He alleged that the Commissioner of Police may be under pressure to downplay the incident, adding: “I suspect the CP may fear that if he says truthfully what he saw, his paymasters will come for his job. But #FactsAreStubborn.”

Initial Denial and Conflicting Accounts

The controversy began after the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Northern Nigeria claimed that armed men stormed churches in Kajuru on Sunday and abducted worshippers. CAN Chairman,

Rev. Joseph Hayab, alleged that attackers blocked entrances and forced worshippers into the bush.

However, the Kaduna State Police Command, in a joint statement with local government authorities, dismissed the claims as “mere falsehood being peddled by conflict entrepreneurs who want to cause chaos.”

Kajuru LGA Chairman, Dauda Madaki, said security operatives deployed to Kurmin Wali found no evidence of an attack. He quoted the village head as denying any such incident.

The state commissioner for internal security also asserted that religious leaders who visited the area confirmed the information was false.

Police Confirmation

On Tuesday night, the Nigeria Police Force clarified that an abduction did occur at Kurmin Wali, a remote community in Kajuru.

Force spokesperson CSP Benjamin Hundeyin said the incident generated widespread concern, prompting the Kaduna State Governor to convene a State Security Council meeting.

Hundeyin explained that confusion arose when some individuals disputed the report during the meeting, leading to caution in public statements.

He said comments by the Kaduna Commissioner of Police were intended to prevent panic, not to deny the incident.

“Subsequent verification from operational units and intelligence sources has confirmed that the incident did occur. The Nigeria Police Force, therefore, 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,” Hundeyin stated.

He added that the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has directed full deployment of tactical units and intelligence assets to Kajuru and surrounding communities, including targeted search-and-rescue operations.

Scale of the Abduction

CAN in Kajuru reported that about 172 worshippers were abducted during the attack.

A list of 177 victims from ECWA Church and Cherubim and Seraphim Churches 1 and 2 has since been made public, revealing the scale of the tragedy.

Entire families were taken, leaving the community traumatised. The Jonathan family lost 12 members, the Amos family 13, Marcus Makudi’s family 10, while the Ishaya and Danisa families lost 7 each. Other households saw between 2 and 6 members abducted.

The victims range widely in age, from 71-year-old Augustina Matthew to 6-year-old Salvation Idris.

Several children, including Likita Amos (6), Jumota Idris (7), Tessie Amos (8), and Yahaya Joshua (9), were among those kidnapped.

Multiple 10-year-olds, such as Susana Idris, Sinta Amos, Hezebah Jonathan, and Hezekiah Jonathan, were also listed.

The raid came less than a week after the community paid ₦2.6 million to secure the release of 20 residents abducted in a previous incident, underscoring the persistent insecurity in the area.

The incident has sparked outrage, with Odinkalu and other rights advocates warning against attempts to downplay the crisis.

The Nigeria Police Force has appealed to the public and media to rely on verified information and avoid speculation that could jeopardize rescue operations.