'Dem go shoot you if you attempt run' - Eyewitness of Kaduna Church kidnap tell BBC

Some reports from Kaduna State for northern Nigeria tok say armed gangs gbab plenty pipo wey dey go church for two different churches for di state.

Tori wey come out on Monday claim say over 100 pipo bin kidnap by bandits during church service for Kurmin Wali village for Kajuru on Sunday.

One community leader wey escape and also see di attack wit him own eye tok say di gunmen strike during Sunday evening church service, and worshippers no get any chance to run.

"Pipo try run, but dem warn us say if anybodi run, dem go shoot am. Dem don already surround di area," im tell BBC News.

Im say di attackers force worshippers make dem lie down for ground bifor dem begin push plenty of dem enter nearby bush.

"Dem force evri bodi sit down and lie for ground bifor dem push pilo enter bush," im tok.

According to am, at least 177 pipo dem first carry go, though some later manage escape including him.

"Dem first take 177 pipo. Later some return, and 168 still dey with dem. Even me sef I escape afta I hide for one room." im tok.

E add say di bandits thief money and anytin wey get value for di community.

As im dey describe wetin dey happun for di village afta di attack, im say families don dey overwhelmed wit fear and sorrow.

"Pipo dey in fear and dem dey look for dia relatives wey bandits carry" im tok.

One senior church leader even tok say more dan 160 worshippers dem abduct during Sunday service.

Dis na di latest mass kidnap for Nigeria, wia both Christians and Muslims don dey targeted.

Di gangs, wey pipo dey call "bandits" for local area, dey regularly carry out dis kain attacks for northern and central parts of di kontri, mostly to collect ransom.

As dem describe di attack for Sunday, local security tok say gunmen wey carry "sophisticated weapons" burst enter two churches for Kurmin Wali, one forest community for Afogo ward, around 11:25 local time.

"Di attackers come plenty and block di entrance of di churches, force di worshippers comot and carry dem enter bush," Rev Joseph Hayab, chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) for northern Nigeria, tell AFP news agency on Monday.

Wen e dey tok to Reuters, Hayab add say: "Information wey reach me from di church elders be say 172 worshippers dem kidnap, while nine pipo manage escape."

Police say no mass kidnap happun

But Kaduna State Police Command don deny di report of mass kidnap of over 100 worshippers for Kajuru Local Govment Area.

Di Commissioner of Police for Kaduna State, Muhammad Rabiu, describe di report as pure lie wey conflict entrepreneurs dey spread to cause wahala and confusion for di state.

E tok dis one while e dey address journalists afta State Security Council meeting for Sir Kashim Ibrahim House on Monday.

Di CP challenge anybodi wey dey claim say pipo bin kidnap make dem bring di names of di victims and oda correct details.

E warn pipo wey e call rumour mongers make dem stop to dey spoil di peace wey Kaduna State dey enjoy, add say di full force of di law go catch anybodi wey dey spread fake news.

Also for di briefing, di Chairman of Kajuru Local Govment, Dauda Madaki, say immediately e hear di rumour, e mobilise police and oda security agencies go Kurmin Wali, but dem no see any sign say attack happun.

"We visit di church wia dem say kidnap happun. No evidence of any attack dey dia.

I ask di village head, Mai Dan Zaria, and e confirm say nothing like that happun," Madaki tok.

"I also call di youth leader for di area, Bernard Bona. Na im even tok to journalists wey follow us, and e say nothing of such happun.

"So I challenge anybodi make e provide di names of pipo dem kidnap. I don dey wait for dis list, but nobodi don bring am," e add.

Madaki say e believe say di rumour dey sponsored by pipo wey no happy wit di relative peace wey Kajuru don dey enjoy since dis present govment come.

E advise pipo for di area make dem remain calm and kontinu dia lawful businesses, and also urge dem to report any suspicious movement or rumour spreaders to security agents.

For im own response, di Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Sule Shauibu (SAN), say CAN chairman and oda religious leaders don interact wit pipo for di area wia di alleged kidnap suppose happun.

"Dem find out say wetin circulate for public na complete falsehood," e tok, as e assure say "Kaduna State Govment get zero tolerance for criminality."

For November, more dan 300 students and teachers bin kidnap from one Catholic school. Dem later release dem in two groups. Di incident na one of many kidnaps wey make international headlines.

Nigeria still dey face plenty security wahala, including kidnapping for ransom by criminal gangs, Islamist insurgency for di north-east, separatist violence for di south-east, and clashes between herders and farmers for di central part of di country over land and water.