The United States has raised serious concerns over Nigeria’s ability to protect Christian communities following the abduction of 177 worshippers in Kaduna State, as bandits were yesterday sighted moving freely through forest corridors with their captives, days after storming churches without resistance.
On Sunday, gunmen attacked three churches in Kurmin Wali community in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State and whisked away more than 177 worshippers, with 11 managing to escape, while 166 are still in captivity.
The US warning came as a high-level delegation of their officials arrived in Nigeria yesterday on a week-long diplomatic tour aimed at reviewing counterterrorism efforts and the protection of vulnerable religious groups across Africa, the Middle East and Europe, reports The PUNCH.
The meeting is part of the United States-Nigeria Joint Working Group and was co-chaired by the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and the US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Allison Hooker.
took place amid heightened diplomatic tensions after US President Donald Trump redesignated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern over alleged religious freedom violations.
However, the federal government has repeatedly dismissed claims of systemic Christian persecution, maintaining that insecurity affects citizens of all religious backgrounds.
Hooker said recent attacks showed that despite reported security operations, Christian communities in parts of northern Nigeria remained dangerously exposed.
Hooker said, “Today, we are here to discuss how we can work together to deter violence against Christian communities; prioritising countering terrorism and insecurity; investigating attacks and holding perpetrators accountable; and reducing the number of killings, forced displacements, and abductions of Christians, particularly in the North Central states.
“On 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.
However, 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 practice their faith freely and safely.”
Hooker said the mass abduction in Kaduna underscored persistent security failures that the Nigerian government must urgently address.
She added that advancing religious freedom and security would deepen US-Nigeria relations in other areas, including trade, economic cooperation, health responses and the fight against terrorism.
She said, “Advancing religious freedom and security will help the United States and Nigeria to 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.
“We hope to identify some 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, and expand investigations and ensure prosecution of individuals and groups committing atrocities.”
Her comments came amid fresh field reports confirming that the abductors of the Kurmin Wali worshippers were seen trekking with their victims between Ungwan Gamu and Maro communities in Kajuru Local Government Area, exploiting forest routes long known as bandit hideouts.
The abductors have reportedly demanded the return of 17 motorcycles, valued at N28.9 million, which they claim were seized during recent military operations, as a condition for the release of the victims.
In response, National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, acknowledged the gravity of the situation, saying the federal government had intensified joint military operations, intelligence coordination and investigations into attacks on religious communities.
Ribadu said violence framed along religious lines was unacceptable and would be treated as an attack on the Nigerian state, assuring that perpetrators would be tracked and prosecuted.
“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. Our response therefore integrates security operations, rule of law, humanitarian safeguards and strategic communication, ensuring that operational successes translate into public confidence and strengthened social cohesion,” he said.
Ribadu said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had authorised expanded security deployments, enhanced intelligence coordination and stronger investigations into attacks on religious communities, assuring that perpetrators would be tracked and prosecuted.