US Puts Nigeria On The Spot, Makes Fresh Demands Over Safety Of Christians

The United States has urged the Nigerian government to adopt stronger and more decisive measures to safeguard Christian communities nationwide, following the abduction of more than 170 worshippers in Kaduna State.

The incident, which took place during church services, renewed fears over religiously driven violence in Nigeria. Although the Kaduna State Government and the Nigeria Police Force initially denied reports of the attack on Monday, the police later confirmed on Wednesday that armed assailants had indeed kidnapped the worshippers.

Security sources revealed that the abductors are demanding the return of 17 motorcycles—estimated to be worth about ₦28.9 million—which they claim were seized during recent military operations, as a condition for the victims’ release.

Speaking on Thursday at a U.S.–Nigeria Working Group meeting in Abuja, the U.S. Under Secretary for Political Affairs, Allison Hooker, acknowledged Nigeria’s recent progress in addressing insecurity but stressed that the latest attack highlighted the need for more robust action.

Hooker noted that despite some improvements, recent incidents show that greater efforts are required to ensure the safety of Christian communities and protect their freedom to worship without fear.

She said the meeting focused on strengthening cooperation to prevent violence against Christians, enhance counterterrorism efforts, thoroughly investigate attacks, hold perpetrators accountable, and reduce killings, forced displacement and abductions—particularly in Nigeria’s North-Central region.

Hooker referenced the recent release of 38 Christians abducted from a church in Kwara State and 265 individuals taken from St. Mary’s Catholic School, describing these developments as tangible progress resulting from collaboration between the United States and Nigeria. However, she expressed concern over the reported kidnapping of more than 170 Christians in Kaduna State on January 18, insisting that Nigeria must do more to protect religious communities.

She added that improving religious freedom and security would strengthen broader U.S.–Nigeria relations, including cooperation in trade, economic development, health initiatives and counterterrorism, while also supporting the return of internally displaced persons to their communities.

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

Ribadu emphasised that Nigeria’s pluralistic society requires the protection of all citizens, regardless of religious affiliation, and warned that violence framed along religious lines would be treated as an attack on the state itself.

He said the government’s approach combines security operations, adherence to the rule of law, humanitarian considerations and strategic communication to ensure that security gains translate into public trust and social cohesion.

Ribadu further disclosed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had approved expanded security deployments, improved intelligence coordination and more rigorous investigations into attacks on religious communities. He assured that those responsible would be identified and prosecuted.

According to him, the federal government is also strengthening early-warning and rapid-response systems and developing a national database to provide accurate data on casualties from violent attacks, a move aimed at improving accountability and enhancing the effectiveness of security responses.