Thursday, January 22, 2026 — By Dalena Reporters
A prominent Yoruba socio-political group has sharply criticised the Nigerian federal government, led by President Bola Tinubu, accusing it of denying and attempting to conceal the mass abduction of worshippers from churches in Kaduna State, an incident that has sparked widespread national and international concern over rising insecurity in northern Nigeria.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the organisation Ìgbìnmó Májékóbájé Ilé-Yorùbá described the unfolding situation as a tragic example of how human lives “mean nothing” under the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration, asserting that the government’s response to the kidnapping reflects a broader pattern of downplaying security crises.
Allegations of Denial and Intimidation
The Union said the Tinubu government and security agencies initially denied the abduction of 166 worshippers seized by suspected bandits in the Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State an attack that took place during Sunday services at multiple churches.
According to the group, authorities not only dismissed the incident, but also warned victims’ families to remain silent, purportedly to prevent the international community, particularly governments such as the United States, from learning about the scale of the abduction.
The Union’s statement argued that this behaviour reflects a “dangerous pattern” of insecurity being minimised or suppressed, even as armed gangs operate without fear of arrest and escalate attacks, including invasions of churches and mosques to carry out kidnappings.
Humiliation of Victims and Families, Group Says
The Yoruba Union lamented that entire communities are being abandoned as violence spreads across multiple states — including Kogi, Kwara, Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina, Benue, Kaduna and Borno — forcing people to flee and seek safety elsewhere. The group said that victims’ families are often left to pay ransom demands, sell their properties, borrow funds or beg publicly to secure their loved ones’ release, while the government appears focused on image-management over people’s lives.
“While vulnerable Nigerians are left in the hands of these marauders, President Tinubu and his family continue to enjoy full state security funded by taxpayers’ money,” the Union said, denouncing what it called a failure to uphold the president’s constitutional duty to protect lives and property.
Call for Immediate Action
The Union urged swift action to rescue the abducted worshippers and protect Nigerians at risk of similar attacks. It also highlighted other recent abductions, including that of a traditional monarch in Kwara State and chiefs in Kogi State, insisting that urgent security interventions are overdue.
“We will not rest or be cowed by anyone,” the group declared, emphasising its commitment to advocating for the safety and protection of Nigerians nationwide.
Broader Backdrop: Contested Incident and Government Response
The allegations from the Yoruba Union arise amid broader controversy surrounding the Kaduna abduction incident. Initial denials by the Kaduna State Police Command and local officials that the kidnappings occurred were later contradicted by community leaders, rights organisations and later acknowledgements from authorities.
The abduction incident, reported by multiple sources as one of the largest of its kind in Nigeria in recent years, involved gunmen storming three churches in Kurmin Wali, Kaduna state, and seizing scores of worshippers during services.
Critics say the initial denial by authorities deepened public distrust and fuelled claims of government mismanagement of insecurity an issue that has drawn intense scrutiny from civil society groups, opposition parties and international observers alike.