The Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, Muhammad Rabiu, has described the reported kidnap of over 100 worshippers in Kajuru Local Government as a falsehood being peddled by conflict entrepreneurs seeking to create chaos in the state.

Conflicting reports on Monday claimed that over 100 people were abducted by bandits during a church service at Kurmin Wali village in Kajuru on Sunday.

However, addressing reporters after the State Security Council meeting at Sir Kashim Ibrahim House on Monday, the Commissioner of Police challenged anyone to provide the names of the alleged kidnapped victims and other particulars.

He warned those he described as rumour mongers to desist from attempting to derail the prevailing peace in Kaduna State, adding that the full wrath of the law would be visited on such merchants of falsehood.

Also speaking, the Chairman of Kajuru Local Government, Dauda Madaki, said that upon hearing the rumour of the attack, he mobilised the police and other security forces to Kurmin Wali, only to find that no attack had occurred.

“We visited the church where the so-called kidnap took place. There was no evidence of any attack. I asked the village head, Mai Dan Zaria, and he confirmed that no such attack occurred.

“I also called the youth leader of the area, Bernard Bona, who was interviewed by the press team that accompanied me, and he said that nothing of the sort happened.

“So, I challenge anyone to provide the names of the kidnapped individuals. I have been waiting for this list, but no one has come forward.

“I believe the rumour of the kidnap is being sponsored by people who are unhappy with the relative peace Kajuru has been enjoying since the coming of this administration,” he added.

He advised the people of the area to remain calm and go about their lawful businesses, urging them to report any suspicious movements or rumour mongers to security agents.

In his response, the Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Sule Shauibu (SAN), said that the CAN chairman and other religious leaders had interacted with the people of the area where the so-called kidnap allegedly occurred.

“They found out that what was circulated to the public was completely false,” he said, assuring that “Kaduna State Government has zero tolerance for criminality.”

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has said that his administration is aware of some non-governmental organisations taking advantage of the demolition exercise in the Makoko area of the state.

The governor, who stated this while addressing journalists, said the NGOs, both local and international, were out to profit from the issues that have emanated from the demolition.

“We are aware that there are some local and international NGOs that want to profit from this. We’re studying, and we’re going to show you evidence,” the governor said.

“They’ve made so much money from international people. And that they’ve asked for so many grants and wealth into those places, and it’s just for them to cover their own lies and the fact that they’ve not done what they said they were going to be doing.

“That’s why they’re all shouting and crying more than the bereaved. And we’re here to face them and to let them see the reasons why we have to do what we’re doing,” he added.

“There have been several, you know, issues and stories here and there on what we’re doing. They mention that we’re doing Makoko and the rest of it,” he added.

He said the state government took the decision “for the overall safety of the citizens”, adding that many of the inhabitants erected buildings under high-tension cable.

“Of what interest will it be for the government to want to unduly demolish anybody’s what, what interest if it is not for the overall safety of the citizens that we’re talking about.

“A lot of these people have built the shanties right under the high-tension wires,” he said.

“And so we cannot be a lawless state of people. Something has to give at some point because we cannot fold our arms and let calamity or disaster happen,” Sanwo-Olu added.

In September 2025, the Lagos State Government announced plans to remove illegal structures built under high-tension cables in the Makoko community, Yaba, Lagos.

The Makoko area is divided between land-based and waterfront areas, which comprise rows of shanties, built on the Lagos lagoon one of the world’s largest cities with an estimated population of over 15 million.

Former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), was on Monday taken into custody by security operatives shortly after his release from the Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja.

Operatives of the Department of State Services reportedly picked him up immediately after he exited the facility. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission clarified that it did not re-arrest Malami.

Officials of the Nigerian Correctional Service confirmed that Malami was released after meeting his bail conditions.

“He has been released. He perfected his bail conditions and was released this afternoon,” one official said. Another added, “He joined the DSS in their vehicle after his release.”

A video obtained by our correspondent showed Malami being led to a black vehicle shortly after leaving the correctional centre.

In the footage, he was heard asking, “Who is the oga among you? Can I see your ID card?”

Efforts to obtain comments from the DSS Deputy Director of Public Relations, Favour Dozie, were unsuccessful, as calls to her phone were not returned.

EFCC spokesman Dele Oyewale, reiterated, “We didn’t pick him up after he was released.”

Malami’s release followed the granting of bail on January 7 by Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja. The court granted bail to Malami, his wife, and his son in the sum of N500 million each, with strict conditions.

Each defendant was required to produce two sureties with verifiable landed property within Asokoro, Maitama, or Gwarimpa, deposit property documents with the court, and submit affidavits of means.

They were also ordered to surrender their international passports and barred from travelling abroad without prior permission.

Malami, his wife Asabe, and his son had been remanded at Kuje following their arraignment by the EFCC on December 29, 2025, on a 16 counts, bordering on money laundering involving about N8.7bn.

The EFCC alleged that the defendants used multiple corporate entities, bank accounts, and high-value real estate transactions to conceal proceeds of unlawful activities.

Court documents (FHC/ABJ/CR/700/2025) stated that Malami and his son allegedly used Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to conceal over N1.01bn between July 2022 and June 2025, and another N600m allegedly passed through a Sterling Bank account linked to the company between September 2020 and February 2021.

Additionally, the EFCC claimed the trio disguised the origin of N500m used to purchase a luxury duplex on Amazon Street, Maitama.

Malami had been in EFCC custody since December 8, 2025, after failing to meet earlier bail conditions.

On December 18, a Federal Capital Territory High Court, presided over by Justice Babangida Hassan, upheld his detention as lawful.