The United States has expressed serious concern over Nigeria’s ability to protect Christian communities following the abduction of more than 170 worshippers from three churches in Kurmin Wali, Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The warning came as US officials said bandits were sighted moving freely through forest routes with their captives days after the attack, highlighting persistent security gaps.
The concern was raised during a high-level meeting of the US–Nigeria Joint Working Group in Abuja, co-chaired by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu and US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Allison Hooker. The engagement took place amid renewed diplomatic scrutiny after the US redesignated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern over alleged religious freedom violations, a claim the Federal Government has repeatedly rejected.
Hooker said recent attacks showed that Christian communities in parts of northern Nigeria remained dangerously exposed despite ongoing security operations. While acknowledging recent successes in securing the release of abducted Christians elsewhere, she stressed that the Kaduna mass abduction underscored urgent security failures and called on Nigeria to do more to protect religious freedom and hold perpetrators accountable.
In response, Ribadu assured that the Federal Government had intensified joint military operations, intelligence coordination and investigations into attacks on religious communities. He said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had authorised expanded security deployments, improved early-warning systems and stronger prosecutions, stressing that violence framed along religious lines would be treated as an attack on the Nigerian state.
Meanwhile, local sources confirmed that the abductors were seen trekking with victims between Ungwan Gamu and Maro communities, reportedly demanding the return of 17 motorcycles allegedly seized during military operations as a condition for release. Community leaders, civil society groups and regional organisations have condemned the attack, urging the government to strengthen surveillance, rescue efforts and community-based security to curb the growing threat of banditry in Southern Kaduna.
