The United States has expressed concern over Nigeria’s ability to protect Christian communities after more than 170 worshippers were abducted in Kaduna State, while the Federal Government has said it is intensifying efforts to track down the attackers and rescue the victims.
The abduction occurred on Sunday when gunmen invaded three churches in Kurmin Wali community in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State during worship services. Over 177 people were taken away, although 11 later escaped. As of Thursday, about 166 worshippers were still being held by the attackers.
The issue was discussed during a meeting in Abuja between Nigerian security officials and a visiting delegation from the United States. The talks were held under the United States–Nigeria Joint Working Group and were led by Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and the US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Allison Hooker. The US delegation arrived in Nigeria as part of a week-long tour focused on counterterrorism and the safety of religious groups.
The meeting took place amid rising diplomatic pressure following the decision by the US government to redesignate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern over religious freedom issues. Nigerian authorities have, however, maintained that insecurity in the country affects people of all faiths and is not targeted at one religious group.
US officials raised worries that recent attacks showed continued exposure of Christian communities in parts of northern Nigeria, despite ongoing security operations. They pointed to the Kaduna abduction as proof that armed groups were still able to operate and move freely with captives through forest areas.
Reports from the affected communities confirmed that the abductors were sighted moving with their victims on foot between Ungwan Gamu and Maro communities, using forest routes known to be used by bandits. Community leaders said the attackers later demanded the return of 17 motorcycles allegedly seized during military operations, placing the value at about ₦28.9 million, as a condition for release.
In response, the National Security Adviser said the Federal Government had stepped up joint military operations, intelligence sharing, and investigations into attacks on religious communities. He stated that violence linked to religion would be treated as an attack on the Nigerian state and that those responsible would be traced and brought to justice.
Ribadu added that President Bola Tinubu had approved expanded deployment of security forces to high-risk areas, stronger intelligence coordination, and deeper investigations. He said the government was also working on early-warning systems and a national database to provide reliable data on deaths and casualties related to violence, to improve security planning and response.
Briefing journalists after the meeting, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said the engagement with US officials showed ongoing cooperation between both countries on security matters. He noted that intelligence sharing and joint operations, including in the North-East and North-West, had been strengthened and that the US had committed to delivering outstanding military equipment such as drones and helicopters.
Meanwhile, fresh accounts from victims of earlier kidnappings revealed harsh conditions in captivity. A 27-year-old woman abducted from another community in Kajuru Local Government Area recounted spending days in the forest without medical care despite being heavily pregnant. She said she later gave birth in captivity with the help of fellow abductees and without any professional assistance.
Community leaders and civil groups have condemned the attacks, describing them as a failure of local security structures. Some groups called for a community-based forest security system that would involve residents who understand the terrain, while others criticised initial denials of the abductions by local authorities, saying it delayed response efforts.
The Federal Government has urged Nigerians to remain patient while security reforms continue, assuring that efforts are ongoing to rescue those still in captivity and reduce repeated attacks on rural communities in Kaduna and other affected states.