Joseph Hayab, Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the northern region, has condemned the police for initially denying the abduction of over 160 worshippers in Kaduna, saying the denial slowed rescue efforts.

The incident occurred on Sunday when gunmen stormed three churches in the community, abducting about 167 congregants. Despite immediate reports to security authorities, the Kaduna State Police Command on Monday dismissed the claims as “falsehood spread by conflict entrepreneurs” aiming to destabilise the state.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide-Nigeria (CSW-N) later confirmed the kidnappings, accusing security agencies of obstructing independent verification of the attack.

In a statement on Tuesday, Benjamin Hundeyin, Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), acknowledged the abduction of over 100 worshippers, explaining that initial comments by the police commissioner were intended to prevent panic while verification was ongoing and were not meant to deny the attack.

Speaking on Channels Television, Hayab described the police denial as “a total disappointment” and “a failure that undermines public trust.” He added that valuable time was lost during the period of denial, which could have been used to pursue the abductors.

“The security agencies were aware of the situation immediately. The time spent denying the truth allowed the bandits to escape further,” he said.

Hayab also accused the local government chairman of misrepresenting the situation after initially confirming the attack. “He first acknowledged the number of abducted persons, then changed the narrative after leaving the community briefly. In a civilised setting, such conduct warrants resignation or dismissal,” he said.

“The truth is now out. Police have acknowledged the abduction. As a pastor and CAN chairman, I will never report anything untrue,” he added.

The northern CAN leader urged that future responses to such attacks should prioritise swift verification and immediate action to save lives.