Police Defend Stance on Kaduna Abductions, Deny "Inconsistency" in Statements
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has firmly rejected accusations of inconsistency regarding its communication on the mass abduction of worshippers in Kajuru, Kaduna State. Despite initially dismissing the reports as "fake news," the Force Headquarters now insists its messaging has been consistent with available evidence.
The controversy began when the Kaduna State Police Command and government officials initially described reports of the Sunday abduction of over 100 worshippers in Kurmin Wali as "falsehoods" peddled by "conflict entrepreneurs". However, on Tuesday night, the police u-turned, confirming that the incident did indeed occur and that a significant number of persons were missing.
"No Inconsistency," Says Force PRO
Addressing the public backlash on Wednesday, Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, defended the police's handling of the situation. Speaking on national television, Hundeyin argued that the initial denial was not a falsehood but a reflection of the verified information available to operatives at that specific moment.
"There is no inconsistency from the statement coming from the police," Hundeyin stated. "The Kaduna State Commissioner of Police said when we received the information... we were yet to get any evidence as this happened. The moment we got evidence, we also came out to say that we have gotten evidence".
He further explained that the initial caution was intended to prevent "unnecessary panic" while tactical units conducted verification on the ground.
Rescue Operations Underway
With the incident now officially confirmed, Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun has ordered the immediate deployment of aerial surveillance helicopters and additional tactical units to the Kajuru area to aid in the rescue of the victims.
This defense comes amidst intense scrutiny from groups like the ACF and CAN, who have demanded immediate results and criticized the initial delays in acknowledging the tragedy. Meanwhile, the state government has pledged to establish a military base in the affected area to prevent future attacks.
Stay tuned to Naijarave.com as we track the progress of the rescue operations.
