The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the abduction of 163 worshippers during a Sunday service in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, describing the incident as a chilling reminder of Nigeria’s deepening insecurity and urging President Bola Tinubu to order immediate rescue operations.
In a statement yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, the opposition party expressed sympathy with the victims and their families, noting that the tragedy has once again exposed the vulnerability of citizens in places meant to offer spiritual refuge.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families during this agonising period of uncertainty,” Ememobong said.
The PDP faulted the federal government’s handling of security, arguing that repeated attacks on worshippers across the country underscore what it called a failure to safeguard Nigerians’ constitutionally guaranteed right to freedom of worship.
“Nigerians must not live in fear when going to churches or mosques to worship,” the party said, lamenting what it described as the normalisation of insecurity under the current administration.
Calling for urgent and coordinated action, the PDP urged the APC-led federal government to launch comprehensive rescue efforts to ensure the safe return of the abducted worshippers. It cautioned security agencies against repeating past missteps, referencing previous incidents where, it claimed, media exposure took precedence over the protection and dignity of victims during rescue operations.
Ememobong also took aim at the President’s priorities, insisting that no amount of public relations abroad could mask the pain of families grappling with kidnappings and violent attacks at home.
“Insecurity cannot be solved by propaganda,” he said. “The families suffering these tragedies will communicate their pain regardless of how much money is spent on image management.”
The party further renewed its advocacy for state policing, arguing that decentralised security structures could have prevented criminals from operating with such scale and impunity.
Reiterating that the protection of lives remains the government’s foremost constitutional duty, the PDP challenged the Tinubu administration to demonstrate resolve beyond rhetoric.
“Every Nigerian deserves to worship in safety,” the statement said. “This is the time for decisive action, not promises. Nigerian lives must matter in practice, not just in speeches.”
