Nigeria’s main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has condemned the abduction of worshippers during a church service in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, describing the incident as evidence of worsening insecurity in the country.
In a statement issued signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong on Tuesday said 163 people were kidnapped during Sunday’s service and expressed sympathy with the families of the victims, saying it shared in their “anguish and uncertainty”.
The party blamed the attack on what it called a failure of security under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, arguing that repeated assaults on places of worship show that insecurity has become “normalised”.
According to the chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Kajuru Local Government Area, quoted by several media outlets, the attackers arrived in large numbers while the service was ongoing. He said 172 worshippers were initially taken, but nine managed to escape shortly after the incident.
The PDP said attacks on worshippers, regardless of religion, undermine Nigerians’ constitutional right to freedom of worship, adding that citizens should not fear going to churches or mosques.
The opposition party called on the federal government to begin what it described as comprehensive rescue operations to secure the release of those abducted. It also urged the authorities to avoid what it termed excessive media publicity during rescue efforts, citing concerns over the safety and privacy of victims.
The statement criticised President Tinubu for what it described as spending public funds on improving Nigeria’s image abroad, arguing that insecurity could not be resolved through public relations efforts.
The PDP further renewed its call for the adoption of state policing, saying such a system might have prevented the attack. It urged the federal government to intensify efforts against banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes.
“The protection of citizens is the primary responsibility of government,” the party said, adding that every Nigerian deserves to worship in safety.
