Conflicting accounts have emerged over an alleged abduction of worshippers from churches in Kaduna State, with church leaders and local residents reporting a mass kidnapping, while security agencies insist no such incident has been confirmed.
Local news outlets reported that gunmen attacked churches in Kurmin Wali community, Kajuru Local Government Area, during Sunday services, forcing worshippers into nearby bushes. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the area claimed that over 100 worshippers, possibly as many as 160, were abducted, including women and children.
Reputable local news platforms quoted church leaders and residents as saying the attack happened during morning worship, leaving several families searching for missing relatives. Some reports said a few worshippers escaped during the Attack, while many remained unaccounted for.
However, the Kaduna State Police Command has denied the reports. Police authorities said there is no official record of a mass abduction in the area and urged anyone with verifiable information to come forward with details of missing persons.
Officials of the Kajuru Local Government Area also dismissed the reports as misleading, saying security agencies had not received confirmed complaints of kidnapped worshippers from the affected communities.
As of Tuesday morning, no federal security agency has issued an official statement confirming the incident or the number of people allegedly abducted, leaving the situation unclear.
Kaduna State and other parts of north-west Nigeria have experienced repeated attacks on rural communities, schools and religious centres in recent years, often followed by conflicting early reports before official verification.
Residents and church leaders say they are awaiting clarity from authorities, as security agencies continue monitoring the situation.
