The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised the Kaduna State Government and the Nigeria Police Force over what it described as an attempted suppression of facts surrounding the abduction of church worshippers in Kurmin Wali, Kajuru Local Government Area.
The opposition party faulted authorities for initially dismissing reports of the kidnapping, only to later confirm the incident following widespread public outrage.
To the ADC, the episode highlights what it called an excessive focus on image management by governments led by the All Progressives Congress (APC), even in the face of grave security threats.
In a statement issued to Naija News and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party warned that the handling of the incident raised troubling questions about the credibility of governments that choose denial as their first response to insecurity.
The statement queried whether any administration that instinctively withholds or distorts information during security emergencies can be trusted to safeguard lives or meaningfully address rising violence.
The ADC stressed that the denial of a confirmed mass abduction should not be treated as a mere communication failure, insisting it was a calculated decision that prioritised optics over human lives.
Describing transparency as a critical tool in emergency response, the party argued that honest and timely information is essential for coordinating rescue efforts, mobilising affected communities and calming public fear. It warned that concealing facts during crises only escalates risk, delays intervention and deepens trauma for victims and their families.
The party also raised concerns over reports that journalists, civil society groups and independent observers were allegedly barred from accessing the affected communities.
According to the ADC, such restrictions fuel suspicion and suggest an attempt to shield uncomfortable truths from public scrutiny.
The ADC maintained that a government genuinely committed to addressing insecurity would encourage the free flow of information rather than stifle it. It further argued that the incident had exposed contradictions in Kaduna State’s widely publicised peace initiatives.
While authorities were quick to deny the kidnapping to preserve a narrative of stability, the party noted that senior officials had previously admitted to negotiating with armed groups and making concessions to criminal elements. The ADC warned that such an approach may deliver short-term relief but ultimately emboldens criminals and leaves law-abiding citizens exposed.
Beyond Kaduna State, the ADC also criticised the Federal Government for what it described as a troubling lack of response to the abduction of Christian worshippers. The party said the silence reflected not only a lack of empathy but also a government overwhelmed by the persistence of insecurity.
According to the ADC, silence in the face of violence is not a security strategy but an admission of failure, driven by frustration that official narratives are being contradicted by reality.
The party called for urgent, transparent rescue operations for all abducted persons in Kurmin Wali and other parts of Kaduna State. It also demanded an independent probe into the circumstances surrounding the initial denial of the incident, including the roles played by government officials and security agencies in circulating false information.
In addition, the ADC urged authorities to remove all barriers preventing journalists and civil society organisations from accessing conflict-affected areas. The party further called for full public disclosure of any negotiations or agreements with armed groups, including their legal justification and oversight frameworks.
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“No Nigerian should have to plead with their government just to have their suffering acknowledged,” the statement concluded. “No family should be forced to prove that their loved ones have been abducted before the state takes action.”