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 armed bandits were reportedly seen moving freely through forest corridors with their captives days after storming local churches.
On Sunday, gunmen attacked three churches in Kurmin Wali community in Kajuru Local Government Area, abducting more than 177 worshippers. While 11 people managed to escape, 166 remain in captivity.
The US warning coincided with the arrival of a high-level delegation of American officials on Thursday for a week-long diplomatic tour. The visit aims to review counterterrorism efforts and the protection of vulnerable religious groups across Africa, the Middle East, and Europe.
The meeting, part of the United States-Nigeria Joint Working Group, was co-chaired by Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Allison Hooker. It comes amid tensions following President Donald Trump’s redesignation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” for alleged religious freedom violations—a claim the Nigerian government has repeatedly rejected, emphasizing that insecurity affects citizens of all faiths.
Hooker highlighted that recent attacks show Christian communities in northern Nigeria remain highly exposed despite reported security measures.
“We are here to discuss how we can work together to deter violence against Christian communities, counter terrorism, investigate attacks, hold perpetrators accountable, and reduce killings, forced displacement, and abductions, particularly in North Central states,” Hooker said.
She acknowledged recent successes, including the release of 38 Christians abducted from a church in Kwara State and 265 from St. Mary’s Catholic School, noting that these achievements were a direct result of engagement with the Nigerian government.
However, she expressed concern over the mass abduction in Kaduna on January 18, emphasizing that the Nigerian government must do more to protect citizens’ right to practice their faith safely. Hooker stressed that enhancing religious freedom and security would strengthen US-Nigeria relations in areas such as trade, counterterrorism, health, and humanitarian response.
Reports confirmed that the abductors were seen moving with their captives between Ungwan Gamu and Maro communities, exploiting forest routes long known as bandit hideouts. The kidnappers are reportedly demanding the return of 17 motorcycles, valued at N28.9 million, allegedly seized during recent military operations, as a condition for releasing the victims.
Government Response
National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu acknowledged the severity of the situation, saying the federal government had intensified joint military operations, intelligence coordination, and investigations into attacks on religious communities.
“Nigeria is a deeply plural society, and protecting all citizens—Christians, Muslims, and others—is non-negotiable. Violence framed along religious lines is treated as an attack on the Nigerian state itself,” Ribadu said, adding that perpetrators would be tracked and prosecuted.
He explained that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had authorised expanded security deployments, enhanced intelligence coordination, and stronger investigations into attacks on religious communities, alongside national security emergency declarations in high-risk areas.
The government is also developing a national database to serve as a single, authoritative source of accurate data on deaths and casualties, which Ribadu said would improve accountability and guide evidence-based security responses.
On-the-Ground Accounts
The village head of Kurmin Wali, Ishaku Dan’azumi, confirmed that abductors were sighted with the captives after issuing threats over perceived military presence. “They accused us of being backed by powerful people and disappeared afterward. We do not know their destination,” he said, urging authorities to intensify rescue efforts.
Among the victims is 27-year-old Maimuna Babangida, abducted from Kadage community along with her four children. Eight months pregnant at the time, Babangida described a harrowing 13-day captivity with no medical care, harsh conditions, and scarce food. She gave birth to a baby boy, Abubakar, with assistance from fellow captives.
Babangida appealed to the government for immediate action, expressing concern for the welfare of her children and other captives.
Community and Civil Society Reactions
The Northern Christian Youth Professionals condemned the attack as a failure of Nigeria’s internal security architecture, stressing that the exclusion of forest communities from security frameworks allowed bandits to operate freely. The group called for a properly structured, community-driven Forest Guard system.
The Southern and Middle Belt Leadership Forum also denounced the abductions as “heinous, barbaric, and unacceptable,” criticizing initial denials from state officials and local authorities. They described the delay in acknowledging the attacks as a “grave betrayal of public trust” that undermined emergency response efforts.
