The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned what it described as a “grave security failure” following the reported abduction of 163 worshippers during a church service in Kaduna State, attributing the incident to perceived shortcomings in national security under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
In a statement issued on Monday and signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, the PDP extended sympathy to the affected families and called for urgent and comprehensive rescue efforts to secure the release of the captives abducted on Sunday in the Kajuru Local Government Area.
The party described the attack, which happened while congregants were attending services at churches in the Kurmin Wali area, as “a sad reminder of the horrifying security failure under the Bola Tinubu APC-led administration.”
According to the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Kajuru LGA, initial reports indicated that 172 worshippers were seized by suspected bandits who blocked exits and forced the congregation into nearby forests. Nine of the abductees reportedly escaped soon after, leaving 163 still in captivity.
The PDP said the frequency and scale of the attack underscored a broader pattern of insecurity that it argued has worsened at the national level. The party renewed its advocacy for state policing, maintaining that devolved security structures could have deterred such attacks if operational.
“The abduction of 163 Nigerians from their places of worship is a sad reminder of the horrifying security failure under the Bola Tinubu APC-led administration,” the PDP’s statement said, asserting that constitutional rights, including freedom of worship, must be protected.
The opposition party criticised what it described as the federal government’s focus on international image management rather than “addressing the root causes of insecurity.” It argued that “insecurity cannot be solved by propaganda” and urged a shift toward tangible measures to protect citizens.
The PDP also appealed to authorities to avoid the politicisation of the incident, urging that response efforts centre on the safe return of the abducted worshippers and the implementation of effective security strategies.
At the time of publication, no group had claimed responsibility for the attack, and efforts by security agencies to confirm details and locate the abducted persons were ongoing. Authorities have faced repeated challenges in combating banditry and kidnappings in parts of northern Nigeria, where remote communities often remain vulnerable to armed groups.
The reported incident and the PDP’s response highlight ongoing national debate over Nigeria’s security architecture and the role of the federal government in ensuring the safety of citizens across all regions.
