The United States has raised concerns over Nigeria’s ability to protect Christian communities following the abduction of more than 170 worshippers in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, as Nigerian authorities pledged to intensify efforts to track and prosecute the perpetrators.
Gunmen attacked three churches in Kurmin Wali community on Sunday, abducting at least 177 worshippers. Eleven reportedly escaped, while about 166 remain in captivity. Fresh field reports indicated that the abductors were later sighted moving with their victims through forest routes between Ungwan Gamu and Maro communities.
The issue dominated discussions on Thursday at a United States–Nigeria Joint Working Group meeting in Abuja, co-chaired by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu and US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Allison Hooker. Hooker said recent incidents showed that Christian communities in parts of northern Nigeria remained vulnerable and urged stronger protection, accountability and counterterrorism measures.
She acknowledged recent releases of abducted Christians in other states but said the Kaduna incident underscored persistent security gaps.
In response, Ribadu said the Federal Government had expanded joint security operations, enhanced intelligence coordination and strengthened investigations into attacks on religious communities. He said violence framed along religious lines would be treated as an attack on the Nigerian state and that perpetrators would be tracked and prosecuted.
Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris said Nigeria and the US were deepening security cooperation through intelligence sharing and operational support, adding that early-warning systems and a national casualties database were being developed to improve response and accountability.
Keywords: Kaduna abductions, US-Nigeria security, religious freedom, banditry, counterterrorism
