* Donald Trump,
US President
The Pathfinder
Friday January 23, 2026
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The United States has reacted to the recent kidnap of 177 worshippers in Kaduna State, urging the Nigerian government to intensify efforts to safeguard Christian communities.
The call by the US was made during a high-level United States-Nigeria Working Group meeting in Abuja yesterday, where the US Under Secretary for Political Affairs, Allison Hooker, said recent incidents showed that Nigeria must do more to guarantee the safety of Christians and their right to freely practice their faith.
While acknowledging progress recorded in recent months, Hooker warned that persistent attacks on religious communities undermine security gains and public confidence.
Hooker said: “Today, we are here to discuss how we can work together to deter violence against Christian communities; prioritise counter-terrorism and insecurity; investigate attacks and hold perpetrators accountable; and reduce the number of killings, forced displacements and abductions of Christians, particularly in North-Central states.
* Protection of Christians
“On the 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.”
She added that strengthening religious freedom and security will further deepen bilateral relations between both countries, including in trade, economic cooperation, health and counter-terrorism efforts, while also supporting the return of internally displaced persons to their communities.
“Advancing religious freedom and security will help the United States and Nigeria 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 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, expand investigations, and ensure the prosecution of individuals and groups committing atrocities.”
We’re intensifying military operations in affected areas —FG
Responding, the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, acknowledged the scale of the security challenge and said the Federal Government is intensifying military and law enforcement operations in affected areas.
* Kaduna Abduction: We won’t tolerate massacre of Christians — US lawmakers
He stressed that violence framed along religious lines is unacceptable and will be treated as an attack on the Nigerian state.
Ribadu said: “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, the rule of law, humanitarian safeguards and strategic communication, ensuring that operational successes translate into public confidence and strengthened social cohesion.”
He disclosed that President Bola Tinubu had authorised expanded security deployments, improved intelligence coordination and more robust investigations into attacks on religious communities, assuring that those responsible would be brought to justice.
Ribadu said: “At the national level, and under the leadership of President 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 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 and 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. In parallel, 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.”
The Kaduna abduction occurred on January 18, and the bandits are reportedly demanding the return of 17 motorcycles, valued at N28.9 million, allegedly seized during recent military operations, as a condition for releasing the victims.
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