The United States has urged Nigeria to take more decisive action to protect Christian communities following the abduction of over 170 worshippers in Kaduna State, an incident that has heightened concerns over religiously motivated violence. The abductions, which reportedly occurred on January 18, were initially denied by the Kaduna State government and the police before being confirmed by authorities on Wednesday. Speaking at a U.S.–Nigeria Working Group meeting in Abuja, U.S. Under Secretary for Political Affairs, Allison Hooker, said the incident highlighted the need for stronger measures to deter violence, improve counterterrorism efforts, and ensure accountability for attacks against Christians, particularly in North-Central Nigeria.
Hooker acknowledged recent progress, citing the release of dozens of previously abducted Christians in Kwara State and from St. Mary’s Catholic School, but stressed that the Kaduna incident showed more urgent action was required. Responding, Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, said the government was intensifying military and law enforcement operations and had expanded security deployments under President Bola Tinubu’s directive. Ribadu described violence framed along religious lines as unacceptable, reaffirming that the protection of all Nigerians, regardless of faith, remains a non-negotiable responsibility of the state.