Hayab criticised security authorities for initially denying that the incident occurred, despite widespread reports and claims that multiple worshippers were abducted during the attack.
The Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in 19 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Joseph John Hayab, has expressed shock over the response of the Nigerian police and other security agencies to reports of a mass kidnapping at a church in Kaduna State.
Hayab criticised security authorities for initially denying that the incident occurred, despite widespread reports and claims that multiple worshippers were abducted during the attack.
He made his remarks during an interview on Arise Television, which was monitored by SaharaReporters.
According to him, the controversy surrounding the incident was worsened by conflicting statements from officials and security agencies, particularly on the number of victims involved.
Hayab noted that arguments over figures distracted from the core issue of the abduction itself.
"One of the reasons why you are seeing figures flying around, is because in the communication yesterday, there was claim that if it really happened, show us the name and before 5am the names were flying everywhere," he said.
He stressed that the church and community had consistently maintained that the incident took place, urging security agencies to focus less on disputing numbers and more on addressing the crime.
"A lot of people were kidnapped, that is right, what we have kept telling security agencies is that let's not debate about numbers," Hayab stated.
The CAN chairman further expressed concern that security agencies were informed immediately after the incident, yet later issued statements denying that any kidnapping occurred. He described this as disturbing and confusing.
"The moment the incident happened, security agencies were informed, I think that is why we were a little bit worried, that how could security agencies be informed and only to come out later and deny? How could security agencies even send a signal about this, which is what they do, only to come out and deny?" he said.
Hayab also questioned the role of a local government council chairman who reportedly gave an initial account of the incident, including casualty figures, only to later claim that nothing happened.
"I have asked questions severally, the council chairman who claimed he was there, he was the first to give us a figure, so we are shocked to hear him say nothing happened," Hayab added.
The incident has continued to generate public concern, with calls for clarity, accountability and a coordinated response from security agencies in addressing insecurity in Kaduna State.
Previously, SaharaReporters noted that during a daring attack on Sunday, a gang of bandits struck multiple churches in the Kurmin Wali area of Kajuru Local Government, Kaduna State, abducting over 100 worshippers during ongoing services.
A source with family members among the victims told SaharaReporters that the assailants stormed the churches, forcibly taking congregants.
Reports indicate that around 10 people considered vulnerable were released by the attackers.
While the report went round, the Nigerian police denied that such attack ever happened. However after public outcry, it made a u-turn admitting that there was such kidnap incident.
Nigerians have expressed disappointment at the security agencies for trying to sweep such kidnap case under the carpet.
Kaduna has faced repeated cases of deadly attacks by bandits.For instance, on January 3, SaharaReporters reported that bandits had killed four members of a family during a deadly overnight attack in Kachia town, Southern Kaduna.
Multiple sources told SaharaReporters that the attack occurred near the newly established Federal University of Applied Science, the headquarters of Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
A member of the affected family confirmed the incident to SaharaReporters, identifying the victims as Mr. Bitrus Bahago, his wife, Mrs. Justina Bitrus Bahago, their son, Ibrahim Bitrus Bahago, and another relative, Adam Waziri.
“They are all four killed by the bandits,” the family source said.