By SUNTV Global News Desk
January 21, 2026
Fresh revelations have emerged surrounding the Kaduna State Government’s initial denial of the abduction of scores of Christian worshippers in Kajuru Local Government Area, with security and government insiders alleging the move was a calculated attempt to avoid international — particularly United States — scrutiny and to protect the state’s fragile peace narrative.
On Sunday, armed bandits reportedly stormed several churches in the Kurmin Wali area of Kajuru during worship services, abducting a large number of congregants. SaharaReporters first broke the story, citing local sources who said more than 100 worshippers were taken.
The Chairman of the 19 Northern States chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. John Hayab, later confirmed the attack, stating that about 172 worshippers were initially abducted, with some managing to escape, leaving approximately 163 still in captivity.
However, in a swift and controversial response, the Kaduna State Government publicly dismissed the reports. Following a security meeting, the state’s Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Muhammad Rabiu, alongside the Chairman of Kajuru Local Government, Dauda Madaki, told journalists that no worshippers were kidnapped, describing the reports as falsehoods allegedly spread by “conflict entrepreneurs” seeking to destabilize the state.
Why the Denial? Sources Speak
Multiple security and government sources have now told SUNTV Global that the denial was deliberate and strategic.
“One of the overriding concerns was to avoid drawing attention from Washington, given the posture of the U.S. administration on Nigeria’s internal security and religious conflict issues,” a source familiar with the discussions disclosed. “There was a clear effort to manage the optics and downplay the incident.”
Another insider linked the denial to political considerations and the state government’s peace framework with armed groups.
“The kidnapping directly undermined the government’s peace model,” the source said. “Admitting it would have been embarrassing and politically costly, especially with re-election calculations in mind. The instinct was to deny.”
Sources further alleged that subtle pressure has been applied to local media to limit reports of killings and kidnappings across Kaduna State, in order to sustain the image of a successful peace initiative.
“There is pressure to preserve the sanctity of the peace narrative,” one source noted. “As a result, violent crimes by bandits and extremist elements are often underreported.”
Police Headquarters Raises Alarm
The handling of the incident reportedly drew concern from senior officers at the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) headquarters in Abuja.
A senior police officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the denial did not reflect the collective position of the State Security Council.
“From our findings, the denial was not a collective decision,” the officer said. “It was a directive from the Governor and his team to the Commissioner of Police, the Commissioner for Internal Security, and the local government chairman, for strategic reasons we cannot rationalize.”
The officer described the sequence of events as troubling, noting that interviews confirming the abduction had already been aired before the state’s denial was issued.
“We found it curious that after the same security meeting, the Governor posted about general security issues on his official social media pages but avoided any mention or denial of the Kajuru kidnapping. That suggested something was wrong,” the source said.
According to the officer, the Force Headquarters later insisted that the Commissioner of Police visit the affected area.
“We in Abuja have since issued a statement confirming that the incident occurred and that efforts are ongoing to resolve it,” the officer added.
The source further alleged that state officials went beyond verbal denials, issuing written statements and circulating videos of the briefing across multiple platforms to reinforce the official narrative.
Quiet Efforts to Secure Release
Despite the public denials, credible sources say the Kaduna State Government has been working behind the scenes to secure the release of the abducted worshippers.
“There have been several discreet engagements and shuttles aimed at rescuing the victims,” a source disclosed.
Governor Uba Sani is said to have travelled to Abuja, where he has been consulting with the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and other top security officials.
“The discussions are focused on identifying who can play a key role in securing the release of the worshippers,” the source said.
As families of the abducted victims continue to wait anxiously for news, the unfolding revelations raise serious questions about transparency, accountability, and the true state of security in Kaduna State.
SUNTV Global will continue to monitor and report developments on this story.
