US Raises Alarm Over Kaduna Abductions

US Raises Alarm Over Kaduna Abductions

The United States has expressed concern over the abduction of worshippers in Kaduna State, as the Federal Government says it has stepped up efforts to track down the attackers and rescue those still in captivity.

The concern follows the kidnapping of 177 people from three churches in Kurmin Wali community, Kajuru Local Government Area, where gunmen invaded during services and escaped through forest routes.

Eleven victims later fled, while 166 remain held by the abductors, who were later seen moving openly with their captives between nearby communities.

The issue was discussed during a high-level meeting in Abuja between Nigerian security officials and a visiting United States delegation, which arrived for talks on counterterrorism and the protection of vulnerable religious groups.

The meeting formed part of the United States–Nigeria Joint Working Group on security and took place amid renewed diplomatic attention on Nigeria’s religious freedom record.

US officials said the latest incident showed ongoing gaps in protecting Christian communities in parts of northern Nigeria, despite reported security operations.

They stressed that attacks, abductions and forced displacement continued to threaten lives and warned that more needed to be done to prevent such crimes and bring those responsible to justice.

In response, the National Security Adviser said the government had expanded military deployments, strengthened intelligence coordination and intensified investigations in affected areas.

He added that attacks framed along religious lines would be treated as a direct threat to the state and assured that security agencies were working to locate the abductors and secure the release of the victims.