The Kaduna State Police Commissioner, Muhammad Rabiu, has dismissed reports alleging the kidnapping of over 100 worshippers in Kajuru, Kaduna State, as falsehoods.
Rabiu said the claims were being peddled by “conflict entrepreneurs” seeking to destabilise Kaduna State and undermine the prevailing peace.
Addressing newsmen after the State Security Council meeting yesterday, he challenged accusers to provide names and details of any alleged victims. “Let anyone who claims this kidnapping occurred come forward with names and particulars of the victims”, the Commissioner said.
He warned rumour mongers to desist, stressing that “the full wrath of the law” would be applied to those spreading false information.
Also speaking, Kajuru Local Government Council Chairman, Dauda Madaki, said security forces found no evidence of any attack in Kurmin Wali. He said, “We visited the church where the so-called kidnapping took place. There was no evidence of any attack”.
Madaki added that the village head, Mai Ɗan-Zaria, confirmed that no such incident occurred in the community. Also, the youth leader, Bernard Bona, told journalists on the ground that “nothing of that nature happened”.
” So far, no one has produced a single name of a kidnapped person,” he said, alleging deliberate attempts to stir unrest.
Madaki urged residents to remain calm, continue lawful activities, and report suspicious movements or rumour peddlers to security agencies.
The Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Sule Shu’aibu (SAN), said religious leaders also verified the claims as false. According to him, “They found that what was pushed into the public space was completely untrue”.
He reaffirmed that the Kaduna State Government has “zero-tolerance for criminality”.
