Daily Trust Editorial, January 29, 2026
On Sunday, January 18, 2026, bandits invaded the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) and Cherubim and Seraphim churches while worship services were ongoing in Kurmin Wali community, Kajuru Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State. In each church, they held worshippers hostage before marching a total of 177 into the bushes. However, 11 reportedly escaped.
Despite distressed calls by victims’ families, neighbours and local leaders to security forces and officials of state and local governments, they all denied any report of mass abduction in the community or the area.
Specifically, the Kaduna State Police Commissioner, Alhaji Muhammad Rabiu, dismissed “claims” of any kidnapping of church members, describing them as “false,” and challenged the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), residents and some of those who escaped from the attacks to provide evidence.
The Police Commissioner told journalists, after a State Security Council meeting penultimate Monday, that “till now, nobody has been able to provide the name of any person allegedly kidnapped from the community.”
Chairman of Kajuru LGA, Dauda Madaki, added: “We mobilised the police and other security forces to the area, Kurmin Wali, but found out that there was no attack… There was no evidence of the attack. I believe that the rumour 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.”
After denying and deflecting the news of the mass abduction of over 177 worshippers for more than two days, police thereafter confirmed the terrible act, explaining the lie as part of a measured response pending confirmation of details and identities of victims.
Daily Trust believes that the commissioner of police exhibited the highest form of unprofessionalism, which portrays a collapse of conscience, prioritising loyalty to politics over professional call of duty. Indeed, he bowed to political correctness and clear dereliction of duty.
This initial denial by the police and the state and local governments is reminiscent of the early denials that trailed the abduction of 276 schoolgirls from the Government Girls Secondary School (GGSS), Chibok, Borno State, by Boko Haram insurgents on April 14, 2014. Federal government officials and security agencies repeatedly raised doubts about the incident. As public outrage grew, some government officials and supporters of the ruling party alleged that the abduction narrative was being politicised to discredit the administration of then President Goodluck Jonathan. They later shamefully acknowledged the mass abduction.
It is our strongly held belief that the denial by state and security officials is embarrassing and leads to a loss of public trust. The refusal to admit an attack or abduction does not mean it did not happen. We insist that never again should security officials deny incidents based on preliminary or unclear reports. Therefore, we call on the police commissioner, as well as state and local governments, to apologise to the people for his earlier hurtful misinformation. They must openly acknowledge mistakes and pledge to abide by acceptable operational standards. After all, attempts to cover up attacks and abductions smack of contempt and levity for the people they are privileged to serve, a public betrayal of their offices.
What cannot be denied is that kidnappings are now a regular occurrence, with people abducted from their homes, places of worship and highways. Yet, safety must be guaranteed, as its seeming normalisation has become a national sore. Therefore, all elected or appointed leaders at federal, state and local government levels should engage in a new round of soulsearching on how the security of lives and property has become so uncertain that attendance at church or mosque, or mere travel on the road, carries the risk of abduction, death or attack.
Towards this, sub-regional governments must work closely with relevant agencies, including the military, the Department of State Services (DSS), the police and the Office of the National Security Adviser, not only to ensure the immediate release of the abductees but also to stop further abductions.
And when the captives are released, unlike victims of other abductions, there must be consequences, as failure to bring perpetrators to justice may well have emboldened criminals, sending the wrong message to wannabes. Unless the necessary political will is deployed with a comprehensive, coordinated and uncompromising strategy, Nigerians will continue to live in perpetual fear and uncertainty.
It is unfathomable that mobile, well-armed criminals move or transport kidnapped victims through villages without significant security interference, exploiting their intimate knowledge of the nation’s ungoverned spaces to perpetuate their violent enterprises. Nigeria has conceded too much space to non-state actors who operate as if the nation’s defence and other security forces cannot engage or stop them, which is alarming.
Daily Trust cautions all personnel within the security architecture to abandon the pursuit of unnecessary positive narratives, even under pressure from politicians. This is the time for professionalism. The police, along with local and state officials, must understand that some things are beyond politics. Security of lives and property should not be politicised, as denial does not make incidents disappear; rather, it reduces the credibility of governments and security forces.
Nigeria has had enough of kidnappings. Enough of excuses. Accountability and decisive enforcement of professionalism should not be optional.
