- Amid recent abduction of over 100 worshippers in Kaduna
The United States has called on Nigeria to take firmer and more decisive steps to protect Christian communities following the abduction of more than 170 worshippers in Kaduna State, an incident that has renewed concerns over religiously motivated violence in the country.
The abductions, which reportedly occurred on January 18, were initially denied by the Kaduna State Government and the police on Monday. However, police authorities later confirmed on Wednesday that the worshippers had indeed been taken. The kidnappers are said to be demanding the return of 17 motorcycles valued at about ₦28.9 million, allegedly seized during recent military operations, as a condition for releasing the victims.
Speaking at a high-level U.S. Nigeria Working Group meeting in Abuja on Thursday, U.S. Under Secretary for Political Affairs Allison Hooker said recent attacks underscored the need for Nigeria to do more to guarantee the safety of Christians and their right to practise their faith without fear.
“Today, we are here to discuss how we can work together to deter violence against Christian communities; prioritise counterterrorism and insecurity; investigate attacks and hold perpetrators accountable; and reduce the number of killings, forced displacements and abductions of Christians, particularly in the North-Central states,” Hooker said.
While acknowledging progress in recent months, she cited the release of 38 Christians abducted from a church in Kwara State and another 265 taken from St. Mary’s Catholic School as evidence that engagement with the Nigerian government was yielding results. She described those developments as “real progress” but stressed that recent events in Kaduna showed more urgent action was required.
“We are concerned about recent reports that gunmen kidnapped more than 170 Christians in Kaduna State,” Hooker added. “The Government of Nigeria must do more to protect Christians and their right to practise their faith freely and safely.”
According to her, advancing religious freedom and security would not only safeguard lives but also deepen cooperation between both countries in areas such as trade, economic development, public health and counterterrorism. She said improved security would also support efforts to return internally displaced persons to their communities in the North-Central region and curb the flow of weapons and funding to terrorist groups.
Responding on behalf of the Nigerian government, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu acknowledged the seriousness of the security situation and said authorities were intensifying military and law enforcement operations in affected areas. He maintained that violence framed along religious lines was unacceptable and would be confronted decisively.
“Nigeria is a deeply plural society, and the protection of all citizens—Christians, Muslims and those of other beliefs is non-negotiable,” Ribadu said, describing such attacks as assaults on the Nigerian state itself.
He said the government’s response combined security operations with the rule of law, humanitarian safeguards and strategic communication to ensure that gains on the ground translated into public confidence and stronger social cohesion.
Ribadu also disclosed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had authorised expanded security deployments, improved intelligence coordination and more robust investigations into attacks on religious communities. According to him, these measures include intensified joint operations in high-risk areas, enhanced early-warning and rapid-response systems, and the development of a national database to provide accurate data on deaths and casualties arising from violence.
“These directives have been matched with concrete action,” he said, adding that investigations and prosecutions linked to attacks on religious groups had been stepped up to ensure that violence was met not only with force, but with justice and accountability.