The Chairman of the Taraba State chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Hassan Aminu Jauro, has refuted reports alleging an attempted kidnapping of the chairman of Gassol Local Government Council, Abubakar Sadiq, describing the alarm as false and misleading.

Jauro, who also chairs the Jalingo Local Government Council, dismissed circulating claims that his Gassol counterpart narrowly escaped an abduction by suspected kidnappers at his residence in Jalingo metropolis.

Announcing that there is no insecurity in Jalingo, the ALGON boss explained how the incumbent governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas, has been working tirelessly to ensure peace and security. He also advised the people not to take the claims of the Gassol chairman seriously.

His statement, which was made available to media practitioners in the state on Wednesday, as observed by The Guardian, aligns with the police’s position, which has also debunked the alleged incident.

The confusion arose from an incident in the early hours of Wednesday, 10 July 2025, when reports emerged that suspected kidnappers had targeted Sadiq’s residence in Jalingo, sparking fear among residents.

The state police command had earlier clarified the situation in a statement, confirming that no kidnapping attempt took place.

According to the police, the Gassol chairman had placed a distress call around 3:15 a.m., reporting suspicious movements around his residence, located near ALGON House in Jalingo.

“The DPO of GRA Division and his patrol team responded immediately and arrived at the location,” Saminu stated. “But no suspects were found, and there was no direct contact between any individuals and the chairman.”

Subsequent police investigations, according to the command, found no evidence of a break-in or any credible signs of an actual kidnap attempt. The police stressed that the alarm raised did not meet the threshold of a criminal offence, such as attempted kidnapping.

Commissioner of Police, Emmanuel Simon Bretet, expressed concern over the false alarm, warning that such misinformation could undermine public confidence in the state’s improving security landscape.

“The security situation in Jalingo has improved significantly, and such unfounded reports only serve to create unnecessary panic,” Bretet said.

He urged residents to remain calm and continue their daily activities without fear, advising public officials and community leaders to verify facts before raising alarms that could cause public anxiety.

Meanwhile, the Gassol council chairman denied ever speaking to any journalist about an attempted kidnapping, distancing himself from the reports making the rounds.