The alleged kidnapping of 172 worshippers in three Kaduna churches has exposed a deeper system failure in Nigeria’s internal security and civilian protection structure.
Development Diaries reports that three churches, including ECWA and Cherubim and Seraphim, were allegedly attacked on Sunday by the terrorists.
It is understood that the attackers shot sporadically to scare away residents before abducting the worshippers.
Here is the interesting part.
The Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) for the north, Rev. Joseph John Hayab, has confirmed that over 170 worshippers were abducted in the three churches, but the police in Kaduna State and the chairman of the local government area said no such kidnapping happened.
Meanwhile, residents claim that the terrorists carried out the coordinated attacks on three churches in the Kurmin Wali community during Sunday services.
This is an indication of a system failure associated with early warning systems, protection during religious gatherings, and transparent verification.
When church leaders and residents report violence while authorities deny it outright, the real issue becomes trust.
Nigeria’s security governance remains reactive, not preventive. Security forces often show up after reports trend, not before attacks occur. Worship centres, schools and rural communities remain soft targets despite repeated assaults.
In Kaduna State, the problem was worsened by the absence of a clear, unified incident verification process. CAN confirmed an abduction, while the police, local government and state officials dismissed it as fiction. That contradiction signals institutional disconnection.
Instead of a transparent investigation, authorities defaulted to denial and threats against ‘rumour mongers’. This denial-first culture discourages community reporting and deepens fear.
Rural communities like Kajuru have lived with bandit violence for years, so when their stories are dismissed without public evidence, the social contract weakens further.
The police in Kaduna State owes Nigerians a credible investigation and clear communication.
Therefore, the Kaduna government must coordinate intelligence and protect civilians, especially faith communities. The federal government, under Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 constitution, bears ultimate responsibility for citizens’ security.
This failure hits poor, rural Nigerians hardest, with worshippers in villages, women and girls, the elderly, youths and persons with disabilities facing the greatest risk during attacks and the least protection afterward.
We must demand clear findings from on-ground investigations, response timelines, and anonymised victim data where necessary.
Communities should document incidents responsibly through clergy, trusted leaders and credible media. Lawmakers must be pressured to hold public hearings on recurring attacks and conflicting security narratives.
The Nigerian police, the Kaduna State Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, and the Kaduna State government must take responsibility.
These institutions should establish a standard verification protocol that is triggered within 48 hours of any reported mass attack, conduct a public audit of security coverage around churches and mosques in Kajuru and other vulnerable areas, and replace threats against ‘rumour mongers’ with clear, evidence-based briefings that show what was investigated, what was found, and what actions were taken.
Photo source: Vanguard
