The Nigeria Police Force has confirmed that an abduction incident occurred in Kurmin Wali community, Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, following days of denial and uncertainty surrounding the reports.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, said investigations by operational units and intelligence sources established that the incident did take place, contrary to earlier claims that it was false.

The abduction had generated widespread fear among residents after initial reports emerged, but was publicly dismissed during a meeting of the Kaduna State Security Council convened by Governor Uba Sani.

Police authorities at the time asked for evidence to support the claims.

Hundeyin explained that comments earlier attributed to the Commissioner of Police in Kaduna State, Rabiu Muhammad, and widely interpreted as a denial, were meant to prevent public panic while security agencies verified the situation.

According to the police, conflicting accounts from individuals in the affected local government area contributed to the uncertainty and delayed confirmation of the incident.

Following the confirmation, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered the deployment of critical operational and intelligence assets to Kajuru and surrounding communities.

Tactical units have been dispatched, patrols intensified, and targeted search-and-rescue operations launched to locate and rescue the abducted victims.

The police appealed to the public and the media to rely only on official sources for verified information and to avoid speculation that could compromise ongoing security operations.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria in the northern region, John Hayab, had claimed that scores of worshippers were abducted in the community.

These claims were initially dismissed by the Kaduna State Police Command and the state government as false.

Rabiu Muhammad had challenged those making the claims to present a list of the kidnapped persons and their details, while the Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Sule Shuaibu, said engagements with CAN at the state level and community leaders indicated that the reports were unfounded.

After decades of neglect and repeated failed interventions, the Enugu–Onitsha Expressway is now scheduled for completion by April 28, 2026, the Federal Government has confirmed.

The announcement came from the Minister of Works, David Umahi, following an inspection of the project, which he described as one of the most challenging roads in the South-East.

“This road has been a major problem for years, ignored by eight previous administrations. It is only through the vision and commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that progress is finally being made,” Umahi told journalists on Saturday.

The 107-kilometre expressway, linking Enugu and Anambra states, is being reconstructed under the Federal Government’s tax-credit initiative.

MTN Nigeria was initially awarded the project at a cost of N202 billion and is collaborating with subcontractors Nigercat, RCC, and SKC to complete various sections.

Umahi disclosed that work valued at N50 billion had already been completed by MTN before economic adjustments, including the naira’s float and subsidy removals, prompted a project review.

Currently, about 72 kilometres across four sections are under active construction.

Two sections of 15 kilometres and 18 kilometres will feature reinforced concrete, while the remaining stretches will be finished with asphalt pavement.

“The 15-kilometre carriageway will be completed in the next two weeks, leaving only the shoulders,” Umahi said.

He also revealed that the Federal Government is considering awarding SKC a separate contract to install solar-powered streetlights along the entire corridor, except where the Anambra State Government has already provided coverage.

Umahi praised the quality of work and assured that objections raised during inspections would be addressed.

“We are satisfied with the progress, and this rehabilitation will end the years of hardship faced by motorists and residents along this route,” he said.

The Catholic Bishops of Ibadan Ecclesiastical Province have called on the Federal Government to ensure that ongoing tax reforms are carried out with fairness, transparency, and a human-centered approach, cautioning that insensitive policies could worsen the economic struggles of millions of Nigerians.

The appeal came in a communiqué issued at the conclusion of the bishops’ first provincial meeting of 2026, held at the Jubilee Conference Centre in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The statement was signed by the Chairman, Most Rev. Gabriel Abegunrin, and the Secretary, Most Rev. John Oyejola.

The bishops acknowledged the government’s effort to reform the country’s tax system, noting that the reforms, initiated under President Bola Tinubu and signed into law on June 26, 2025, have been in effect since January 1, 2026.

However, they observed that the measures have sparked anxiety and mixed reactions, particularly among the poor and vulnerable.

“The reforms must be guided by fairness, transparency, and accountability. The government should give the reforms a human face, allowing the most vulnerable time to adjust before enforcing the full scope of the law,” the communiqué stated.

The clerics warned that policies implemented without sensitivity risk deepening inequality and heightening social tensions, stressing that taxation should not become an additional burden amid rising inflation and unemployment.

Beyond tax issues, the bishops highlighted broader socio-economic concerns, urging all levels of government to prioritize security, healthcare, infrastructure, and creating an enabling environment for economic growth.

They expressed concern over the ongoing strike by health workers, describing it as “tragic and unacceptable,” and condemned the poor state of major road networks in the South-West.

Reaffirming the Church’s commitment to social justice, the bishops encouraged Nigerians to pair prayers with responsible citizenship, hard work, and adherence to the rule of law. “As pastors of souls, we call on Nigerians to resist cynicism and negativity. Prayer must go with good works. We have no other country but this,” the communiqué concluded.

A viral video circulating on social media shows a man reportedly storming a church vigil in Ibeku, Umuahia, Abia State, wielding a cutlass to protest noise pollution.

In the footage, the man can be seen confronting the congregation, demanding they leave, while church members attempt to calm him down.

The video has sparked widespread debate online, with netizens expressing mixed reactions about the issue of noise pollution in residential areas. On X (formerly Twitter), users weighed in on the incident:

User #mrboboskie wrote, “Noise pollution isn’t right, but showing up with a cutlass is not the solution. He should have handled it differently.”

Another, #dahtgirl_ajex, commented, “Maybe he had tried all proper channels and nothing was done. You can see he has endured enough. Churches should stop building in residential areas.”

#Joe_Bassey added, “They will see him as a villain, but the church lacks soundproofing. He could potentially take legal action and win.”
#felixherbt noted, “You would understand his frustration if your home was near one of these Pentecostal churches. Their noise is unbearable.”

The incident echoes previous concerns about noise pollution in Nigeria.

DAILY GAZETTE recalls that in October 2025, the Lagos State Government sealed multiple establishments, including churches, over excessive noise and other environmental nuisances.