The United States has urged the Nigerian government to intensify efforts aimed at protecting Christian communities, following recent abductions and attacks, particularly in Kaduna State.

The call was made on Thursday by the US Under Secretary for Political Affairs, Allison Hooker, during a high-level US-Nigeria Joint Working Group meeting held in Abuja.

Hooker acknowledged that some progress had been recorded in recent months but said recent incidents showed that Nigeria must do more to guarantee the safety of Christians and their right to practise their faith freely.

“Today, we are here to discuss how we can work together to deter violence against Christian communities, prioritising counterterrorism 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,” she said.

She noted that Nigeria had recently secured the release of 38 Christians abducted from a church in Kwara State, as well as 265 victims kidnapped from St. Mary’s Catholic School, describing the developments as evidence of progress driven by bilateral engagement.

“This real progress is a direct result of our engagement with the Nigerian government and our partnership,” Hooker stated.

However, she expressed concern over reports that more than 170 Christians were kidnapped in Kaduna State on January 18, stressing the need for urgent action.

“We want to see an end to this type of violence. We are here to work with the Nigerian government with the goal of protecting Christians and their right to practise their faith freely and safely,” she added.

Hooker also called on the Nigerian government to collaborate with local authorities to secure the release of abducted victims and work with non-governmental organisations to support affected families.

She said advancing religious freedom and security would strengthen US-Nigeria relations, deepen cooperation in trade, economic development, health response and counterterrorism, and support the return of internally displaced persons to their communities.

Responding, the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, said Nigeria had taken deliberate and decisive steps to confront insecurity under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu.

Ribadu said these measures included intensified joint operations, sustained deployment of security forces to flashpoints, and the expansion of early-warning and rapid-response mechanisms.

“Nigeria is 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 strengthen evidence-based decision-making, accountability and the effectiveness of security responses,” he said.

The NSA added that investigations and prosecutions related to attacks on religious communities had been intensified to ensure justice and accountability.

“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,” Ribadu said.

He maintained that the partnership between Nigeria and the United States was yielding results, urging that progress be assessed based on institutional capacity and long-term security outcomes rather than isolated incidents.

The meeting followed the abduction of over 100 worshippers from Kurmin Wali community in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, an incident initially denied by authorities before later confirmation by the police.

The episode drew condemnation from stakeholders, including the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), whose Northern Chairman, Joseph Hayab, criticised security agencies for their initial denial of the incident.

The US-Nigeria Joint Working Group was approved by President Tinubu in November 2025, following agreements reached during a high-level Nigerian delegation’s visit to Washington, DC, led by Ribadu.

Members of the group include the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru; Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and heads of key intelligence agencies.

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