Olushola Omogbehin
Following the abduction of 177 worshippers in Kaduna State on Thursday, the United States has raised serious concerns over Nigeria’s ability to protect Christian communities.
Gunmen attacked three churches in Kurmin Wali community in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State on Sunday and abducted more than 177 worshippers, with 11 managing to escape, while 166 are still in captivity.
Punch reports that US high-level delegation arrived Nigeria on Thursday on a week-long diplomatic tour with the objective of reviewing counterterrorism efforts and the protection of vulnerable religious groups across Africa, the Middle East and Europe.
US decision was informed as bandits were sighted moving freely through forest corridors with captives, days after the Kaduna attack on Sunday with nobody to resist them.
The meeting which was co-chaired by the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and the US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Allison Hooker, is part of the United States-Nigeria Joint Working Group and
Speaking, Hooker said Kaduna attacks showed that in spite of 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.”
Speaking further, 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.”
Reacting to Hooker, the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, who acknowledged the enormity of the situation, said Government had intensified joint military operations, intelligence coordination and investigations into attacks on religious communities.
“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.
He said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had directed increased security deployments, enhanced intelligence coordination and stronger investigations into the attacks on religious communities.
He said, “At the national level, and under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nigeria has taken deliberate and decisive steps to confront insecurity. The President has formally declared national security emergencies in vulnerable and high-risk areas, authorised intensified joint operations, and directed the sustained deployment of security forces to priority locations, particularly those communities experiencing recurrent attacks on civilians and religious groups.
“These directives have been matched with concrete action. Nigeria is expanding early-warning and rapid-response mechanisms, developing a national database to serve as a single, authoritative source of accurate and verifiable data on deaths and casualties arising from violence. This effort will strengthening evidence-based decision-making, accountability, and the effectiveness of security responses. Parallel to this, investigations and prosecutions related to attacks on religious communities have been intensified to ensure that violence is met not only with force, but with justice and accountability.”
Speaking with journalists after the meeting, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said “This is the third high-level engagement with senior United States officials since November 2025. It shows that our partnership is active, serious, and focused on outcomes that matter to Nigerians,” Idris said in a statement by his media aide, Rabiu Ibrahim.
“Our military and security agencies are working closely with US partners through intelligence sharing and operational coordination, and have strengthened ongoing operations, including Operation Hadin Kai in the North East and Operation Fasan Yamma,” he added.
He appealed to Nigerians to remain patient and supportive as government continues with reforms.
“Our responsibility is to keep Nigerians informed and reassured. The work being done today is to ensure a safer country tomorrow,” he added.
