Police Acknowledge Mass Abduction in Northern Nigeria After Earlier Denials

Police in Kaduna State, northern Nigeria, have confirmed that a mass abduction took place over the weekend, reversing earlier statements that dismissed reports of the incident as false.

In a statement issued late on Tuesday, police spokesperson Benjamin Hundeyin said dozens of residents were abducted on Sunday during an attack by armed bandits. He added that security forces have launched operations focused on locating and safely rescuing the victims, as well as restoring calm in the affected communities.

Hundeyin explained that the initial denials by police and other officials were aimed at preventing public panic while authorities verified the facts. The police statement, however, did not provide an official figure for the number of people taken.

Estimates from other sources vary. Kaduna State lawmaker Usman Danlami Stingo told the Associated Press that 168 people were missing following the attack. Meanwhile, Reverend John Hayab, head of the Christian Association of Nigeria in the country’s north, told Reuters that at least 172 worshippers were abducted, with nine later escaping, leaving 163 people still unaccounted for.

The attack is the latest in a series of mass kidnappings across northern and central Nigeria, where armed groups have increasingly targeted rural communities, religious gatherings, and travellers. Both Christian and Muslim communities have been affected, deepening concerns over insecurity and the capacity of authorities to curb the violence.