‘Total Failure:’ Northern CAN Slams Security Agencies Over Initial Denial of Kaduna Church Mass Abduction

By Emmanuel Kwada

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In a scathing rebuke, the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the Northern Region, Reverend Joseph Hayab, has described the initial denial of a mass abduction in Kaduna State as a “total failure” that has eroded public trust and delayed rescue efforts.

The incident occurred on Sunday, January 18, 2026, when armed gunmen stormed three churches in the remote Kurmin Wali community of Kajuru Local Government Area during worship services. Reports indicate that between 163 and 177 worshippers—mostly Christians, including women, children, and pregnant women—were kidnapped in coordinated attacks on the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), Albarka Cherubim and Seraphim, and Haske Cherubim and Seraphim churches.

Initial reports from local residents and church leaders claimed over 170 people were taken, with some later escaping. However, Kaduna State authorities and security agencies swiftly dismissed the claims as “falsehood” and “misinformation,” with the Kaduna State Police Commissioner stating there was “no evidence of an attack” after deploying forces to the area.

The denials sparked widespread confusion and outrage, particularly as community leaders provided detailed accounts and even lists of abducted individuals. Amnesty International condemned the early dismissal, urging immediate action to rescue the victims amid Nigeria’s ongoing epidemic of kidnappings for ransom.

Days later, on Tuesday, January 20, Nigeria Police Force spokesman Benjamin Hundeyin reversed the position, confirming the abduction had occurred. In a statement, Hundeyin explained that the Kaduna Command’s initial remarks were “intended to prevent unnecessary panic while facts were being confirmed,” describing them as a “measured response” pending verification from operational units and intelligence sources.

Hundeyin added that security operations were now underway with a focus on locating and safely rescuing the victims.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Wednesday, Reverend Hayab expressed deep disappointment over the handling of the crisis.

“The manner the police commissioner and other security agencies came out to outrightly say that this thing did not happen—to me it’s a total disappointment, a total failure, and it’s just increased the lack of trust that exists between the people and those who are securing them,” he said.

Hayab argued that the time spent on denials could have been used to pursue the bandits immediately. “Look at the time they were using in denial. That time they’re supposed to be using for pursuing the bandits, but they chose to allow the bandits to have gone far before they are coming to acknowledge that the information we give them is true and remain true,” he lamented.

The abduction is the latest in a disturbing wave of mass kidnappings plaguing Nigeria’s northern region, where armed gangs frequently target vulnerable communities, schools, and places of worship for ransom. Kurmin Wali has faced repeated attacks in recent months, heightening fears for residents in remote areas with limited security presence.

Rights groups and Christian organizations have called for urgent rescue operations and enhanced protection for such communities, amid growing criticism of the government’s response to insecurity.

As search efforts continue, families await news of their loved ones, while the incident underscores persistent challenges in addressing banditry and kidnappings in the region.