By Abiola Olawale
The United States government has issued a stern call to the Nigerian administration to intensify its efforts in protecting Christian communities following a surge in religiously motivated violence and mass kidnappings.
Allison Hooker, the U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, delivered the message during the inaugural session of the US-Nigeria Joint Working Group in Abuja.
The meeting was established following President Donald J. Trump’s 2025 redesignation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) regarding religious freedom.
The Under Secretary’s visit comes on the heels of a devastating attack on January 18, 2026, where gunmen abducted more than 170 Christians from multiple churches in Kaduna State.
Addressing the press after a meeting with the Nigerian delegation, Hooker said the meeting was to discuss how both countries can work together to deter violence against Christian communities, prioritise counterterrorism and insecurity, investigate attacks and hold perpetrators accountable, and reduce the number of killings, forced displacements, and abductions of Christians, particularly in the north-central states.
She said that while some progress had been made in recent months, recent attacks showed that Nigeria must do more to guarantee the safety of Christians and their right to practise their faith freely.
“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,” Punch quoted Hooker as saying.
“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 practise their faith freely and safely.”
Hooker said advancing religious freedom and security would deepen US–Nigeria relations in other areas, including trade, economic cooperation, health response, and the fight against terrorism.
She said the US would also support 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,” she said.
“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.”
In response, Nuhu Ribadu, national security adviser (NSA), acknowledged the gravity
of the security challenges and said the government was intensifying military and law enforcement operations in affected areas.
He reiterated that attacks framed along religious lines were unacceptable and would be met with force and justice.
“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.
