The Kaduna State Government has rejected a recent report ranking it among Nigeria’s top states for kidnapping incidents, describing the findings as false and deliberately misleading.
The report, released by Lagos-based geopolitical research firm SB Morgen, claimed that 629 people were kidnapped in Kaduna between July 2024 and June 2025, placing the state among the worst-hit by kidnapping and banditry.
In a statement issued Thursday by the Ministry of Informationand signed by Commissioner-Designate Malam Ahmed Maiyaki, the government dismissed the report as a fabrication aimed at discrediting the state’s security efforts.
“The publication alleging 629 abductions is false, mischievous, and irresponsible,” the statement read. “It is a figment of the imagination of its authors.”
Maiyaki argued that under Governor Uba Sani’s administration, security in Kaduna has improved significantly, with the implementation of the Kaduna Peace Model,a strategy endorsed by both security agencies and community leaders.
He noted that over 500,000 hectares of abandoned farmlandhave been recovered in previously insecure areas, and markets in Birnin Gwari and Giwa, which were shut for over a decade, have now reopened.
Also addressing the report, Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Dr. Suleiman Shuaibu, highlighted recent security successes, including:34 operations in April 2025, 54 arrests of high-profile suspects, Rescue of over 75 kidnap victims,Dismantling of major criminal hideouts
He also pointed to the creation of the Kaduna Peace Dialogue Group, which engages repentant bandits and facilitates their reintegration into society.
“The reopening of long-closed markets and increased agricultural productivity are clear signs that our security approach is working,” Shuaibu said.
The state government urged the public to disregard the SB Morgen report and warned media outlets against publishing sensational stories that could demoralize security personnel.
Kaduna reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and property through a mix of military operations, community engagement, and socio-economic initiatives aimed at addressing the root causes of insecurity.
