The President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Archbishop Daniel Okoh, has criticised the Nigeria Police Force over its initial public communication on the reported abduction of worshippers in Kurmin Wali community, Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, warning that careless handling of sensitive security information can worsen fear and erode public trust.
In a statement signed by Archbishop Okoh, CAN said it reviewed the police response to the incident and was troubled by how the matter was communicated to the public before proper verification was carried out. The association acknowledged that confirming security incidents in remote communities is often challenging, but stressed that such difficulties do not justify insensitivity where human lives are involved.
According to CAN, the early dismissal of reports about the abduction created unnecessary confusion and anxiety, while casting doubt on the credibility of nearly 170 worshippers, their families, church leaders, and eyewitnesses who raised the alarm.
“The initial public dismissal of reports about this incident, before thorough verification, was deeply troubling,” the statement said. “It generated confusion, heightened fear, and unfairly questioned the credibility of those affected. While preventing panic is important, caution must not be communicated in ways that suggest denial or indifference.”
Archbishop Okoh welcomed the subsequent confirmation of the incident by the police and commended the Inspector-General of Police for ordering the deployment of operational and intelligence assets to the affected area. However, CAN stressed that security actions must be matched with disciplined, people-centred, and empathetic crisis communication.
“Statements made by senior security officials carry significant weight and must be guided by due diligence, empathy, and a clear understanding of their impact on public trust and social stability,” the association noted.
Beyond the immediate incident, CAN urged security agencies and relevant authorities to improve coordination and verification processes, insisting that credible reports from communities should always be treated with seriousness.
“Victims must be protected, genuine distress calls respected, and misinformation — whether dismissive or sensational — avoided,” the statement added.
The association also called on governments at all levels to confront Nigeria’s worsening insecurity with renewed urgency, warning that repeated attacks continue to endanger lives, disrupt worship, and weaken public confidence in the state’s ability to guarantee safety.
CAN appealed for the immediate and unconditional release of all abducted worshippers, praying for their safe return and urging security agencies to intensify all efforts — operational, intelligence, and diplomatic — to secure their freedom.
Reaffirming its stance, the association said it remains committed to peace, justice, and the defence of human dignity, and will continue to stand with affected communities while engaging constructively with authorities in the pursuit of accountability and lasting security.
