…Christian body decries propaganda, urges full investigation as eyewitness corroborates Kaduna kidnap
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has repudiated the cover-up by the Kaduna state government and the Nigerian police, regarding the recent abduction of Christians in the state by unknown gunmen.
The government had demanded evidence in terms of the names of the abductees and voices from the community.
In a reaction, CAN Chairman, 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Rev. (Dr) John Joseph Hayab, who spoke to Advocatus Africa, stated that “the government acted in error by denying the abductions,” detailing that “They asked for names and we gave them.”
He further clarified that “although 177 Christians from 3 Churches – Cherubim and Seraphim 1, Cherubim and Seraphim 2 and Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) were abducted, 11 escaped.”
CAN calls out the government over cover-up, propaganda
Earlier, in an interview with Africa Independent Television (AIT), Dr. Hayap cautioned that “we must not allow security issues to be politicised. Neither do we come to public space to make statements about security issues that do not help in healing wounds but further make people to have more reason not to trust us.”
The Country Director at Global Peace Foundation Nigeria decried the implications of such denials, warning that “The police and all those who have spoken to be careful,” stressing that “We want to win the confidence of Nigerians. I am not sure it is right for us to say things like this in public media.”
He argued that “For the avoidance of doubt, if you listen to the local government chairman, he did tactically admit that there were bandits, but he just turned again and he wasn’t about kidnap. He talks about hospital. So, that tells you that he wasn’t really answering the question. No one is saying nobody is in the hospital. We are simply saying that people were in church and were kidnapped.”
The Baptist Pastor stated, “We have the name[s] of the church and the time the incident happened. The police also know that they have the report wired by them.
“I am sure it is right for security issues to be politicised, because it is like you don’t care about the life of the mother of somebody, the father of somebody, the son of somebody, the friend of somebody. I don’t want to belong to that.”
“Security agencies to go after” CAN urges
Citing his pastoral calling, he said, “As a pastor and as a Christian, the day I start lying when it comes to the lives of individuals, I should just hand over my license and stop preaching. So, this incident happened. All we want the security agencies to do is to go after them, but to come to the public and start denying?
On name-calling, the pastor queried, “I don’t know who they were referencing as merchants. Sadly, we don’t understand. It is the community people who are merchants, is it the Christian Association of Nigeria chairman of the local who is a merchant? Or are the stakeholders in that place who confirmed that this incident took place, who are merchants?”
He noted that “we are partners in progress, wanting to help and make sure things are right and we want to do it truthfully, with integrity. We don’t want to join the politics of lies. Sadly, this had a combination of party issues. I think we should not even have any party speaking now. We are talking about Nigerians that we know have been taken away.”
He charged the “security agencies to go after” the abductors maintain that “We trust our governor. We appreciate the efforts of the security agencies in Kaduna state. In the last one week, they have helped us rescue some of our pastors, [and] the wife of the venerable.”
Venerable Edwin Achi, an Anglican priest, his wife, Mrs. Sarah and their daughter, who were abducted from their home in Kaduna state on 28 October 2025.
Although the family allegedly paid some money out of the N600 million demanded as ransom, the abductors killed Venerable Achi in cold blood.
On Wednesday night, 15 January 2026, his wife and daughter were released and reunited with their family after spending 78 days in captivity.
Eyewitness corroborates CAN’s position
Corroborating the position of CAN, an eyewitness from the community told Advocatus Africa that the abduction occurred on Sunday, 20 January 2026, at Kurmin Wali community in Afogo Ward, Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna state, northwestern Nigeria.
According to him, “177 people were kidnapped from three Churches: C and S no.1, C and S no.2 and ECWA Kurmin Wali during Sunday service between 10.am and 11.am.
He explained that “11 escaped, but 3 physically challenged persons were released by the abductors,” which means that “8 of them escaped narrowly.”
Narrating the ordeal, the source, who is afraid of being named, said, “The attackers, who were about 300 in number, came fully armed to the teeth.”
The insider detailed that “they shot sporadically in the air, leaving cartridges, and 4K-47 bullet ammunition.”
Explaining further, he said, “Those who escaped told us that they were Fulani because they spoke the language.”
On how they appeared, he disclosed that “they were dressed in black and camouflage with turbans tied round their heads. Some wore slippers while others had rubber boots.”
Speaking further, he revealed that “a week earlier, Sunday, 11 January 2026, 21 people were abducted from their homes in the same community.”
About how they were rescued, we told Advocatus Africa that “The community raised N2.2million and paid as ransom. And Thursday the following week (15 Jan.), they regained their freedom.”
He bemoaned the fact that “Some of those freed who were among those recently abducted,” which meant they were recaptured.
The local decried “the absence of a police post in the community” and wondered why “the soldiers at a nearby military checkpoint at Makyali, about 6 kilometres away, could not come to the aid of the villagers when they heard the gunshots.”
On the mood in the community, the local said, “Most people do not sleep in the community,” stressing that “Those who are left in their house cannot sleep at night; they take cover in nearby bushes for fear of abduction and only return during the day.”
He acknowledged that the Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, who visited the community, pleaded with them that the authorities had received misleading reports about the abduction.
He claimed that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) and Chairman of Kajuru Local Government, who had earlier denied the abduction in their separate statements, also visited the community.
Conclusion
In a statement dated 21 January 2026, Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters, Abuja, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, disclosed that “the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has directed the full deployment of critical operational and intelligence assets to Kajuru and surrounding communities.”
In part, the statement read: “These efforts include deployment of tactical units as well as intensified patrols already in place, targeted search-and-rescue operations, and proactive measures to protect lives and property.”
The Nigerian Police Force used the opportunity to “appeal to members of the public and the media for patience and cooperation” while encouraging them “to rely on official police communications for verified information and to avoid speculation or sensational reporting that could jeopardise ongoing operations or heighten public anxiety.”
The Force expressed commitment “to the safety of all citizens and will continue to provide updates as developments unfold.”
