The party specifically faulted the Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, Muhammad Rabiu, for dismissing initial reports of the abduction.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has criticised the Federal Government, the Kaduna State Police Command, and the Chairman of Kajuru Local Government Area over what it described as a “shameful” denial of the alleged kidnapping of about 163 worshippers in Kajuru community, Kaduna State.
In a press statement dated January 21, 2026, and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, the opposition party accused authorities of attempting to downplay and conceal a serious security incident.
The party said, "The Federal Government's silence and the outright denial by the Kaduna State @PoliceNG and Kajuru Local Government Chairman regarding the kidnapping of approximately 163 worshippers in Kajuru community represents a dangerous pattern recurrent in the course of this administration-the normalization of insecurity and a deliberate attempt to obscure the truth from Nigerians."
The party specifically faulted the Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, Muhammad Rabiu, for dismissing initial reports of the abduction.
It stated, "When news of this mass abduction first emerged, the Commissioner of Police Muhammad Rabiu did not just deny that it happened, he recklessly dismissed it as the work of mischief makers, peddled by 'conflict entrepreneurs'.
“He then had the audacity to demand details of victims. The Kajuru Local Government Chairman similarly denied that any kidnap incident occurred within his jurisdiction."
Describing the response of authorities as insensitive, the PDP said, "These denials are deeply hurtful, not only because they are evidently false, but because they reveal the manifest levity with which this administration treats serious matters like security."
The statement further alleged that security agencies were alerted promptly after the incident but failed to act.
“They had the opportunity to act. Instead, they chose denial, prioritizing the government's image over the lives of 163 Nigerians," the party said.
The PDP also criticised the continued silence of officials after the incident was reportedly acknowledged.
"Sadly, since the police eventually accepted the reality of the sad incident, after the residents and the Christian Association of Nigeria provided the names of those kidnapped, the Commissioner of Police and Chairman have been silent, without offering any apologies for their irresponsible conduct and failure to protect the people,” it said.
Calling the situation a “public betrayal and failed cover-up,” the party demanded “an immediate public apology from the Commissioner of Police and the Chairman of Kajuru Local Government Area for their initial denial and failure to act."
It also called on the Federal Government to “immediately deploy a high-powered security team to trace, rescue, and safely return these kidnapped Nigerians to their homes and families".
The PDP concluded by warning against what it termed image-driven governance, stating, "Once again, we urge this administration to abandon performative governance that prioritizes optics over substance."
"The business of government is solving problems, not winning applause. One hundred and sixty-three families are waiting. They deserve action, not excuses," it added.
There have been controversies after the Nigerian Police denied the kidnap incident. Many Nigerians had alleged attempts to sweep the case under the carpet.
The police later made a U-turn, saying it was 'misquoted' and confirming the kidnap incident.