John Sikram of Kaduna
The Adara Development Association (ADA), the umbrella body of the Adara people, has demanded a public apology from the Kaduna State Police Commissioner, Muhammad Rabiu, and the Chairman of Kajuru Local Government Area, Dauda Madaki, for denying the abduction of 166 worshipers in the Kurumin Wari community in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The association demanded an apology in a statement while rejecting the confirmation of the incident by the Nigeria Police Headquarters in Abuja.
The Kaduna State Police Commissioner and Kajuru City Council Chairman on Monday denied the incident happened, dismissing it as “just a lie spread by conflict entrepreneurs who want to cause chaos in Kaduna State”.
Addressing a press conference at the Kaduna Government House on Monday, Rabiu called on anyone to come forward with the names and other details of the kidnapped victims.
He warned rumor mongers to desist from trying to derail the prevailing peace in Kaduna State, threatening such peddlers of falsehoods with the full wrath of the law.
Madaki had claimed that police and other security forces were mobilized to the community after hearing rumors of an attack, but it turned out there was no attack.
“We visited the church where the so-called kidnapping took place. There was no evidence of an attack. We asked the village chief, Mai Dan Zaria, and he said there was no such attack.”
“I also called Bernard Bona, a youth leader in the area who was interviewed by the reporters who accompanied me, and he said that nothing like that was happening.
“So I challenge anyone to tell me the names of the people who have been kidnapped, but I have been waiting for this list and no one has come forward.
“We believe that this kidnapping rumor is sponsored by those who are dissatisfied with the relative peace that Kajuru has enjoyed since the inauguration of the government,” he told a news conference.
Their comments were followed by sharp reactions from several organizations including the Christian Association of Nigeria, the Kaduna state branch of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Christian Solidarity Worldwide Nigeria (CSW N) and others who claimed that over 100 worshipers were abducted by bandits in the community during Sunday services.
However, the controversy ended on Tuesday when the Nigerian Police Force confirmed the abduction in a statement in Abuja.
In a statement signed by military spokesperson Benjamin Fundein, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, ordered the deployment of tactical forces and increased patrols in the area to facilitate the rescue of the victims.
However, ADA president Chief Sébastien Balde yesterday insisted that the police chief and council president had visited the area and received first-hand information.
Residents later denied that anyone had been abducted.
He accused them of deliberately concealing the truth and presented what he described as “a misleading and painful narrative that the abduction did not occur.”
Balde further claimed that there was no prompt and effective intervention to rescue the victims.
He said that rather than acknowledging the gravity of the situation, both officials publicly denied verified reports as rumors allegedly spread by so-called conflict entrepreneurs.
He said it was unfortunate that the council president, who is indigenous to the area, had aligned himself with those who tried to cover up the tragedy.
“It is particularly disturbing that the chairman, who is an indigene of Afogo District, instead of urgently mobilizing to rescue innocent civilians and provide the necessary assistance, participates in concealing the facts,” Barde said.
He said the ADA had formally presented a comprehensive list of 166 people in its custody.
He said the actions of the Commissioner of Police and the Speaker of the City Council were in sharp contrast to the public statements and character of Governor Uba Sani.
“Their actions,” he said, “reflected those of overzealous officials who should be severely reprimanded and given orders.”
Mr Balde said there was no rational justification for what he described as a “total lack of empathy and compassion for a peaceful and underprivileged population who have been exposed to extreme trauma”.
He said the refusal to acknowledge the suffering of the victims was disturbing and indefensible.
“As a result, the association calls on the Commissioner of Police and the Kajuru Local Government Chairman to issue a public apology to the Adara people for deliberately concealing the truth,” the statement said.
The group also called on Governor Uba Sani to “take decisive action and demonstrate moral leadership on this issue.”
The association appealed to the Federal Government, Kaduna State Government and public-minded persons to urgently intervene to secure the release of the abducted worshipers and ensure protection of the vulnerable Adara community.
Balde said the kidnappers had not yet communicated with the community.
Reacting similarly, Elder Sunday Oyebe of the Christian Association of the 19 Northern States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), said it was pathetic that the Commissioner of Police and the Chairman of the City Council denied that the incident took place.
“We condemn the unfortunate incident that occurred in Kajuru.
“We were saddened by the fact that the police commissioner and Kajuru council president denied that the abduction report was false.
“The reason Nigeria is where we are is because of this problem of living in denial. To us, this is an act of irresponsibility and we condemn it,” Oyebe said.
However, he noted that the police’s image has been restored after the police headquarters issued a statement acknowledging the fact that the incident had actually occurred.
Oyebe added: “No one prays for incidents like this to happen, but when they do, we should approach the situation with an open mind and unity. That is the way to go.”
“We are pleased that the Police Headquarters in Abuja has confirmed that the incident occurred.
“We call on the police and other relevant security agencies to do everything in their power to ensure the safe return of the victims. That is our concern.”
