Nigeria police deny reports of mass church abductions in north

Nigerian police have denied reports of mass abductions of worshippers from churches in Kaduna state on Sunday. According to a joint statement by the Kaduna state police commissioner and local government officials on Monday, the reports are false and intended to cause chaos. This denial contradicts earlier claims from a local official and community leader in Kurmin Wali, who stated that gunmen kidnapped dozens, even up to 177 people, from multiple churches. Security forces were dispatched to the area but found no evidence of an attack. Nigeria has been facing a surge in mass kidnappings for ransom, along with other security challenges including Islamist insurgency and clashes between herders and farmers.