ADC Slams Government Over Kaduna Abduction Cover-Up Attempt
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticized the government’s handling of the Kaduna church abduction incident, accusing them of prioritizing public relations over addressing security concerns. The party claims the government’s initial denial of the abduction was a failed cover-up attempt, reflecting an obsession with PR rather than tackling insecurity.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC also criticised the Federal Government’s stone silence on this latest abduction of Christian worshippers, describing it as a sign of fatigue.
ADC decried on what its called ‘conspiracy of silence’ between the Kaduna State Government and the Nigeria Police Force on the mass abduction of Nigerians gathered for worship in Kurmin Wali, Kajuru Local Government Area. The party described the attempt as part of the APC government’s preoccupation with hiding the truth in order to look good.
The full statement read:
“The African Democratic Congress (ADC) expresses grave concern over the attempt by the Kaduna State Government and the Nigeria Police Force to cover up the mass abduction of Nigerians in a church in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, an incident that was later confirmed by the same authorities after public outcry.
“This episode raises a fundamental and dangerous question for our country: can a government whose first instinct is to withhold information and hide the truth be trusted to protect lives and improve security?
“The deliberate denial of a verified mass abduction is not a communications error. It is the behaviour of a government obsessed with looking good rather than solving problems. In moments of violence and emergency, truth is the first line of defence. It guides response, enables rescue, mobilises communities, and reassures a frightened public. However, when a government chooses silence or falsehood, it compounds danger, delays action, and deepens trauma. A government that lies during a security crisis does not merely fail its people; it actively places them at further risk.
“Credible reports that journalists, civil society actors, and independent observers were prevented from accessing affected communities make us wonder what exactly the government was attempting to hide. A government committed to solving problems in a time of crisis asks for information, not suppresses it. When official institutions dismiss verified accounts from families, community leaders, and religious bodies as falsehoods, they erode the very trust upon which effective security depends.
“This incident has also exposed serious contradictions in the so-called Kaduna peace approach. While the government moved swiftly to deny a major kidnapping in order to preserve a public image of peace and security, senior officials have openly acknowledged negotiations and concessions to bandits and criminal elements. This approach may grant immediate wins, but it is not sustainable; it is a dangerous gamble that rewards criminality while leaving law-abiding citizens vulnerable to further attacks.
“The ADC also condemns the Federal Government’s stone silence on this latest abduction of worshippers. This silence does not only suggest a lack of empathy; it indicates a government that is frustrated and has therefore chosen denial and silence. But silence by the Federal Government is not a strategy. It only reveals a government irritated that the public image it seeks to sell is being undermined by the reality of persistent insecurity in the country.
“The African Democratic Congress therefore calls for immediate and transparent rescue efforts for all abducted persons in Kurmin Wali and across Kaduna State. We further demand an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the initial denial of the abduction, including the role of all security and government officials involved in disseminating false information. All restrictions on journalists and civil society organisations seeking access to conflict-affected areas must be lifted without delay. Finally, the Kaduna State Government must fully disclose any agreements, negotiations, or arrangements entered into with armed groups, including their legal basis, terms, and oversight mechanisms.
“No Nigerian should ever have to beg their government to acknowledge their suffering. No family should be forced to prove that their loved ones have been taken by violence before the state will act. The ADC stands with the people of Kaduna State and with all Nigerians who believe that leadership begins with honesty, that authority carries responsibility, and that the first duty of government is to protect life, dignity, and truth.” The statement said.
