Kaduna Abduction: US urges Nigeria to strengthen protection of christian communities

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 has renewed concerns over religiously motivated violence and insecurity in parts of the country. The Kaduna State Government and the Nigeria Police […]

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 has renewed concerns over religiously motivated violence and insecurity in parts of the country.

The Kaduna State Government and the Nigeria Police Force initially denied reports of the abduction on Monday. However, the police later confirmed on Wednesday that the worshippers had indeed been kidnapped.

According to reports, the abductors are demanding 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, the U.S. Under Secretary for Political Affairs, Allison Hooker, said recent attacks showed that Nigeria must 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.

She acknowledged recent progress by the Nigerian government, citing the release of Christians abducted in earlier incidents.

“On the protection of Christians, the Nigerian government recently secured the release of 38 Christians abducted from a church in Kwara State, and another 265 abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic School. This real progress is a direct result of our engagement with the Nigerian government,” she said.

However, Hooker expressed concern over the latest abduction in Kaduna.

“We are concerned about recent reports that gunmen kidnapped more than 170 Christians in Kaduna State on January 18. The Government of Nigeria must do more to protect Christians and their right to practise their faith freely and safely,” she added.

She noted that improving religious freedom and security would strengthen broader U.S.–Nigeria relations in areas such as trade, economic cooperation, public health and counterterrorism.

“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, among many other areas,” Hooker said.

She also stressed the need to support the return of internally displaced persons and disrupt the flow of weapons and funding to violent groups.

In response, Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, acknowledged the seriousness of the security challenges and said the government was intensifying military and law enforcement efforts in affected areas.

Ribadu said attacks framed along religious lines were unacceptable and would be treated as a direct threat to the Nigerian state.

“Nigeria is a deeply plural society, and the protection of all citizens—Christians, Muslims and those of other beliefs—is non-negotiable. Violence framed along religious lines is treated as an attack on the Nigerian state itself,” he said.

He added that the government’s response combined security operations, rule of law and humanitarian measures.

“Our response integrates security operations, the rule of law, humanitarian safeguards and strategic communication, ensuring that operational successes translate into public confidence and strengthened social cohesion,” Ribadu said.

The NSA said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had authorised expanded security deployments, improved intelligence coordination and stronger investigations into attacks on religious communities.

“At the national level, and under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nigeria has taken deliberate and decisive steps to confront insecurity. The President has formally declared national security emergencies in vulnerable and high-risk areas, authorised intensified joint operations, and directed the sustained deployment of security forces to priority locations,” he said.

Ribadu also disclosed that the government was developing a national database on deaths and casualties arising from violence to improve accountability and security responses.

“This effort will strengthen evidence-based decision-making, accountability and the effectiveness of security responses. In parallel, investigations and prosecutions related to attacks on religious communities have been intensified to ensure that violence is met not only with force, but with justice and accountability,” he added.