Gloria Robert, Abuja
The United States has urged the Nigerian government to take more decisive action to protect Christian communities, following the abduction of over 170 worshippers in Kaduna State.
The incident, which has raised fresh concerns about religiously motivated violence in Nigeria, occurred on January 18 and was initially denied by both the Kaduna State Government and the police on Monday. However, the police later confirmed the abduction on Wednesday.
According to reports, the kidnappers have demanded the return of 17 motorcycles worth ₦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 Nigeria must do more to guarantee the safety of Christians and protect their right to practice their faith freely.
Hooker noted that while some progress has been made in recent months, recent attacks showed that more needed to be done.
She said, “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 also highlighted recent government successes in securing the release of abducted Christians, including 38 worshippers from a church in Kwara State and 265 pupils from St. Mary’s Catholic School. She said the progress was a direct result of U.S. engagement with the Nigerian government.
However, she expressed concern over the Kaduna abduction and urged stronger action.
She added, “The Government of Nigeria must do more to protect Christians and their right to practise their faith freely and safely.”
Hooker further said that improving religious freedom and security would deepen U.S.–Nigeria relations in other areas such as trade, economic cooperation, health responses, and the fight against terrorism.
She said the two countries would also work on returning internally displaced persons to their communities and strengthening investigations into attacks.
In response, Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, acknowledged the gravity of the security challenges and said the government was intensifying military and law enforcement operations in affected areas.
He emphasised that attacks framed along religious lines were unacceptable and would be met with force and justice.
He said, “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.”
Ribadu added that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had authorised expanded security deployments, enhanced intelligence coordination and stronger investigations into attacks on religious communities.
He said, “These directives have been matched with concrete action. Nigeria is expanding early-warning and rapid-response mechanisms and developing a national database to serve as a single, authoritative source of accurate and verifiable data on deaths and casualties arising from violence.”
He assured that perpetrators would be tracked and prosecuted, saying the government was committed to ensuring that violence is met not only with force but also with justice and accountability.
