The United States has called on the Nigerian government to take stronger and more decisive measures to protect Christian communities following the abduction of more than 170 worshippers in Kaduna State.
The incident, which occurred on January 18, has renewed concerns over religiously motivated violence in the country. The Kaduna State Government and the police initially denied reports of the abduction on Monday, but the police later reversed their stance on Wednesday, confirming that the worshippers were indeed taken.
Sources said the abductors have demanded the return of 17 motorcycles, valued at about ₦28.9 million, which they claim were 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 that while some progress had been recorded in recent months, the Kaduna incident showed Nigeria must do more to guarantee the safety of Christians and their right to practise their faith freely.
“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.
She acknowledged recent successes, noting that the Nigerian government had secured the release of 38 Christians abducted from a church in Kwara State, as well as 265 others kidnapped from St. Mary’s Catholic School.
“This real progress is a direct result of our engagement with the Nigerian government,” she said. “However, we are concerned about recent reports that gunmen kidnapped more than 170 Christians in Kaduna State. The Government of Nigeria must do more to protect Christians and their right to practise their faith freely and safely.”
Hooker added that advancing religious freedom and security would strengthen U.S.–Nigeria relations in other areas, including trade, economic cooperation, health responses and counterterrorism efforts, while also supporting the return of internally displaced persons to their communities.
“Advancing religious freedom and security will help the United States and Nigeria enhance the reciprocal benefits of our relationship—solidifying trade and economic deals, degrading terrorist groups that threaten our interests, and strengthening health responses,” she said. “We hope to identify ways to return internally displaced persons to the communities from which they were expelled in the North-Central states, interdict weapons and funding going to terrorist groups, expand investigations, and ensure the prosecution of individuals and groups committing atrocities.”
In response, Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, acknowledged the severity of the country’s security challenges and said the government was intensifying military and law enforcement operations in affected areas.
He stressed that violence framed along religious lines was unacceptable and would be confronted with force and justice.
“Nigeria is a deeply plural society, and the protection of all citizens—Christians, Muslims and those of other beliefs—is non-negotiable,” Ribadu said. “Violence framed along religious lines is treated as an attack on the Nigerian state itself.
“Our response, therefore, integrates security operations, the rule of law, humanitarian safeguards and strategic communication, ensuring that operational successes translate into public confidence and strengthened social cohesion.”
