NIGERIA, ABUJA – The Nigeria Police Force has confirmed that an abduction incident occurred at Kurmin Wali, a remote community in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, following days of conflicting public narratives.
The confirmation came after operational units and intelligence assets completed field verification, resolving earlier uncertainty that followed disputed claims during a Kaduna State Security Council meeting convened by Governor Uba Sani.
According to a statement issued on the Police social media handle, the Force acknowledged widespread public anxiety and stressed that citizen safety remains its highest operational priority nationwide.
Police sources explained that confusion arose when some individuals from Kajuru Local Government Area disputed earlier police confirmation, describing the reported abduction as false during deliberations at Government House, Kaduna.
That dispute, the Police said, compelled security agencies to adopt caution and intensify verification processes before issuing definitive public statements on such a sensitive security incident.
The Force clarified that comments credited to the Commissioner of Police, Kaduna State Command, were aimed at preventing panic, not denying the incident, while officers awaited confirmation of victims’ identities and numbers.
“This was a measured response pending confirmation of details from the field,” the Police said, noting that the remarks were later widely misinterpreted across social and conventional media platforms.
IGP Orders Full Deployment to Kajuru Axis
Following confirmation, Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, PhD, NPM, ordered the immediate deployment of critical operational and intelligence assets to Kajuru and adjoining communities.
The Police disclosed that the intervention includes tactical unit deployment, intensified patrols, targeted search-and-rescue operations, and reinforced protective measures for vulnerable communities.
Security sources said the coordinated operation involves close collaboration with other security agencies to ensure effective coverage of difficult terrain surrounding Kurmin Wali.
A senior police officer familiar with the operation stated that the strategy prioritises safe victim rescue while preventing escalation that could endanger civilians or compromise intelligence gathering.
“The focus is on locating the victims alive and restoring calm, without unnecessary force that could worsen the situation,” the officer said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Truth live news reports that Police authorities appealed to residents and media organisations to rely strictly on official communications and avoid speculation capable of undermining ongoing rescue operations.
The Force warned that sensational reporting could heighten public fear and inadvertently provide tactical advantage to criminal elements operating within forested corridors.
CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, anipr, mipra, Force Public Relations Officer, reiterated that the Police would continue issuing verified updates as investigations and operations progress.
“The Nigeria Police Force remains fully committed to the safety of all citizens,” Hundeyin stated, adding that transparency would guide subsequent briefings.
Security Context and Public Confidence
Security analysts say the Kurmin Wali episode underscores persistent challenges around information management during evolving security incidents in volatile regions.
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They note that premature disclosures or denials often complicate response efforts, particularly where community narratives diverge from preliminary intelligence reports.
A Kaduna-based civil society leader observed that public trust depends on timely, accurate updates balanced against operational sensitivity.
“When security agencies communicate clearly, communities cooperate better, which improves intelligence flow and rescue outcomes,” the analyst said.
The Police insist that verification delays should not be mistaken for institutional weakness, describing them instead as safeguards against misinformation with potentially deadly consequences.
Cross River Police Record Non-Kinetic Policing Success
Meanwhile, the Cross River State Police Command has recorded a major breakthrough in its arms mop-up campaign through a non-kinetic policing strategy, reinforcing a broader national shift.
The Command announced that about eighty repentant militants operating along the Bakassi–Oron waterways voluntarily surrendered themselves alongside assorted arms and ammunition.
Police said the surrender followed sustained dialogue coordinated by Operation Okwok, in collaboration with other police components and the Cross River State Government.
Unlike conventional raids, the operation relied on confidence-building, strategic engagement, and intelligence-led persuasion rather than force.
Security officials described the development as a significant boost to maritime security within the state’s coastal and riverine communities.
The militants, previously linked to attacks and criminal disruptions, reportedly embraced the state government’s amnesty programme, choosing rehabilitation over continued violence.
Police sources said the voluntary surrender validated the effectiveness of community-oriented policing approaches in regions with longstanding grievances.
Amnesty, Rehabilitation, and Reintegration
According to the Police, the individuals openly renounced violence and expressed readiness to undergo rehabilitation and reintegration as law-abiding citizens.
The surrendered items included an Expanded GPMG, AK-47 ammunition, a pistol, several locally fabricated rifles with cartridges, and cutlasses.
Officers confirmed that all recovered arms and ammunition are being processed strictly in line with established police procedures.
The repentant militants are currently being guided through structured rehabilitation frameworks coordinated with relevant state agencies.
Commissioner of Police, Cross River State Command, CP Rashid Afegbua, psc, mnips, commended the state government for sustained collaboration and political will.
Afegbua reassured residents that the Command would consolidate gains and sustain proactive measures protecting lives and property across Cross River State.
“This success reinforces our commitment to intelligence-driven, people-centred policing,” the Commissioner said during a briefing monitored by journalists.
National Policing Strategy in Focus
Security experts argue that the contrasting Kaduna and Cross River developments illustrate Nigeria’s dual policing realities, combining kinetic responses with preventive engagement.
They note that while abduction incidents demand rapid tactical intervention, arms proliferation often responds better to dialogue-based disarmament strategies.
A Lagos-based security consultant said non-kinetic approaches reduce collateral damage and encourage long-term stability when backed by credible enforcement capability.
“The key is balance,” the consultant said, adding that persuasion works best when criminals know enforcement remains firm and unavoidable.
Police authorities urged citizens nationwide to support security efforts by providing timely, credible information through official channels.
The Force reiterated that community cooperation remains central to disrupting criminal networks, preventing abductions, and sustaining peace initiatives.
Both operations, the Police said, demonstrate institutional resolve to adapt strategies to evolving threats while prioritising citizen safety.
As security operations continue in Kajuru and rehabilitation progresses in Cross River, authorities pledged sustained engagement, transparency, and accountability.
Police officials stressed that national security requires patience, responsible communication, and collective vigilance from both institutions and the public.
