United States Govt reacts to recent abduction of Worshippers from Church in Kaduna State

United States Govt reacts to recent abduction of Worshippers from Church in Kaduna State

US has urged the Nigerian government to strengthen measures to protect Christian communities following the abduction of 177 worshippers in Kaduna State, an incident that has reignited concerns over religion-motivated violence in the country.

The worshippers were kidnapped on January 18, although the Kaduna State Government and the Nigeria Police Force initially denied the incident on Monday.

The Police later confirmed on Wednesday that the victims had indeed been abducted.

Sources disclosed that the kidnappers are demanding the return of 17 motorcycles, reportedly seized during recent military operations, as a condition for the victims’ release. The motorcycles are said to be worth N28.9 million.

The US call was made during a high-level United States–Nigeria Working Group meeting held in Abuja, where the US Under Secretary for Political Affairs, Allison Hooker, stressed the need for Nigeria to do more to ensure the safety of Christians and guarantee their right to worship freely.

While acknowledging security progress recorded in recent months, Hooker warned that continued attacks on religious communities threaten both hard-won security gains and public confidence.

Hooker said: “Today, we are here to discuss how we can work together to deter violence against Christian communities; prioritise counter-terrorism and insecurity; investigate attacks and hold perpetrators accountable; and reduce the number of killings, forced displacements and abductions of Christians, particularly in North-Central states.

“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. 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.”

She added that improving religious freedom and security would further strengthen bilateral relations between Nigeria and the United States, including cooperation in trade, health, economic development and counter-terrorism, while also supporting efforts to return internally displaced persons to their communities.

Hooker said: “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. 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.”

Responding, the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, acknowledged the magnitude of Nigeria’s security challenges and said the Federal Government is intensifying military and law enforcement operations in affected areas.

He emphasised that violence framed along religious lines is unacceptable and will be treated as an attack on the Nigerian state.

Ribadu 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.

“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.”

He further disclosed that President Bola Tinubu has authorised expanded security deployments, improved intelligence coordination and more robust investigations into attacks on religious communities, assuring that all those responsible would be brought to justice.