The US is very worried about Nigeria’s ability to protect Christian communities after 177 worshippers were kidnapped in Kaduna State. Bandits were seen moving freely through forest corridors with their captives yesterday, just days after storming churches without resistance.
On Sunday, gunmen raided three churches in the Kurmin Wali town in the Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State. They took more than 177 worshippers hostage, although 11 of them were able to escape. 166 are still being held.
The US warning came as a high-level group of their officials arrived in Nigeria yesterday for a week-long diplomatic tour to look at how well Africa, the Middle East, and Europe are protecting weak religious communities and fighting terrorism, according to The PUNCH.
The meeting was part of the United States-Nigeria Joint Working Group and was led by Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser, and Allison Hooker, the US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs.
It happened during a time of heightened diplomatic tensions when US President Donald Trump named Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” because of alleged breaches of religious freedom.
The federal administration, on the other hand, has frequently denied charges of systemic Christian persecution, saying that insecurity affects people of all faiths.
Hooker added that recent attacks proved that Christian communities in some parts of northern Nigeria were still quite vulnerable, even while security operations were going on.
Hooker said, “Today, we are here to talk about how we can work together to stop violence against Christian communities. This means putting terrorism and insecurity first, looking into attacks and holding those responsible accountable, and lowering the number of Christians killed, forced to leave their homes, and kidnapped, especially in the North Central states.”
The Nigerian authorities recently got 38 Christians who had been kidnapped from a church in Kwara state and 265 Christians who had been kidnapped from St. Mary’s Catholic school released. This significant development is a direct result of our work with the Nigerian administration.
“However, we are worried about allegations that gunmen kidnapped more than 170 Christians in Kaduna State on January 18. The Nigerian government needs to do more to keep Christians safe and let them practice their religion freely.
Hooker added that the mass kidnapping in Kaduna showed that the Nigerian government had to fix ongoing security problems right away.
She went on to say that improving religious freedom and security would strengthen US-Nigeria ties in other areas, such as commerce, economic cooperation, health responses, and the fight against terrorism.
She said, “Improving religious freedom and security will help the US and Nigeria get more out of their relationship. For example, it will make trade and economic deals stronger, weaken terrorist groups that threaten our interests, and improve health responses, among other things.”
“We hope to find some ways to bring people who have been forced to leave their homes back to the communities in the North Central states where they were living before, stop weapons and money from going to terrorist groups, and make sure that more investigations are done and people and groups who commit terrible acts are brought to justice.”
Her statements came after further reports from the field confirmed that the people who kidnapped the Kurmin Wali worshippers were spotted walking with their victims between the communities of Ungwan Gamu and Maro in the Kajuru Local Government Area, using forest paths that have long been renowned as bandit hideouts.
According to reports, the kidnappers want the return of 17 motorcycles worth N28.9 million, which they say were taken during recent military operations. This is a condition for the victims’ release.
In response, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu said the situation was very serious and that the federal government has stepped up combined military operations, intelligence sharing, and investigations into attacks on religious groups.
Ribadu added that violence based on religion was not acceptable and would be seen as an attack on the Nigerian state. He promised that those responsible would be found and brought to justice.
“Protecting all citizens of Nigeria, whether they are Christians, Muslims, or of another faith, is not up for debate.” Attacks that are presented as religious violence are seen as attacks on the Nigerian state itself. He said, “Our response therefore includes security operations, the rule of law, humanitarian safeguards, and strategic communication, making sure that operational successes lead to public trust and stronger social cohesion.”
Ribadu added that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has given the go-ahead for more security personnel to be deployed, better coordination of intelligence, and more thorough investigations into attacks on religious groups. He promised that the people responsible would be found and brought to justice.
He remarked, “Nigeria has taken deliberate and decisive steps to deal with insecurity at the national level, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.” The president has officially declared national security emergencies in areas that are vulnerable and high-risk. He has also allowed more joint operations and ordered security forces to stay in priority areas, especially those communities that are being attacked repeatedly by civilians and religious groups.
“These orders have been followed up with real action. Nigeria is building a national database to serve as a single, reliable source of accurate and verifiable information on deaths and injuries caused by violence. It is also improving its early-warning and rapid-response systems. This will improve decision-making based on evidence, accountability, and the effectiveness of security measures. At the same time, investigations and prosecutions of attacks on religious groups have gotten more serious to make sure that violence is confronted with not only force, but also justice and accountability.
After the meeting, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, told reporters that the meeting was part of ongoing efforts to strengthen security relationships and get real results.
“This is the third time that high-level talks have taken place with senior US officials since November 2025.” Idris said in a statement from his media aide, Rabiu Ibrahim, “It shows that our partnership is active, serious, and focused on outcomes that matter to Nigerians.”
He said that working together had led to practical successes on the ground for both countries.
He went on to say, “Our military and security agencies are working closely with US partners by sharing intelligence and coordinating operations. They have also strengthened ongoing operations like Operation Hadin Kai in the North East and Operation Fasan Yamma.”
Idris also talked about how the US is committed to delivering high-quality military equipment that has been bought in the last five years, such as drones, helicopters, and support systems. He also said that the US is ready to give away extra defense equipment.
He said, “Nigeria is acting decisively” when it comes to domestic issues. Security agencies have explicit orders to keep communities safe and respond quickly to threats.
He also said that the federal government was making early-warning systems better and creating a national database to get accurate numbers on deaths and injuries caused by violence.
He said, “This will give us a single, trusted source of data to guide decisions, improve accountability, and sharpen our security response.”
The minister asked Nigerians to be patient and helpful as the changes go on.
“Our job is to keep Nigerians informed and calm.” He went on to say, “The work being done today is to make the country safer tomorrow.”
The Minister of Defense, Gen. Christopher Gwabin Musa (retd.), the Chief of Defense Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, and the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, were all there. The US group also included Lt. Gen. John Brennan, the Deputy Commander of AFRICOM, and other high-ranking officials.
The US Department of State said in a statement on Wednesday that the US Under Secretary will also visit Muscat, Oman; Manama, Bahrain; and Rome, Italy.
Her trip will include strategic talks in Oman and Bahrain, where she will lead talks with both governments to improve collaboration on a number of cultural, economic, and security issues.
She will talk with international partners and counterparts in Rome about important global concerns like the war between Russia and Ukraine, Venezuela, and peace efforts in the Middle East.
She is also going to meet with people from UN agencies like the World Food Programme and the Food and Agriculture Organization to talk about how to keep an eye on and be responsible for US-funded aid programs and to look into new trade opportunities for American farmers in agriculture.
Hooker, who became Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs in 2025, is in charge of important regional and bilateral policy issues at the State Department and is a crucial player in defining US diplomatic relations across the world.
Abductors seen
Ishaku Dan’azumi, the Village Head of Kurmin Wali, informed our reporter yesterday that the abductors and their victims were seen after the abductors threatened to kill them if they saw security officers in the vicinity.
Dan’azumi told our reporter over the phone that the kidnappers and their victims were observed walking on foot between the nearby communities of Ungwan Gamu and Maro, although it was not clear where they were going.
“They (the kidnappers) said we were bringing soldiers and that we were being supported by powerful people,” Dan’azumi alleged. “After that call, they were gone. “This morning, we were told that they were seen walking with our people between Ungwan Gamu and Maro, but we don’t know exactly where they are going,” he said.
The traditional leader said that the bandits made threats on Wednesday night after they saw security officers in the vicinity, which led to the development.
Dan’azumi remarked, “They said we were saying we had ‘big people’ behind us because of the military presence.”
“We told them that we didn’t have anyone and that we didn’t invite the soldiers.” They hung up the phone after that chat, and we haven’t heard from them since.
The village chief was worried about the safety and health of the kidnapped worshippers and asked security forces to step up their monitoring and rescue efforts to make sure they got back safely.
Mother in jail
Meanwhile, 27-year-old Maimuna Babangida, who was kidnapped on January 5 from the Kadage hamlet in Kajuru Local Government Area, talked about how horrible it was to be held captive, where she got no medical help even though she was eight months pregnant and very sick.
Babangida told our reporter that the incident happened at about 9:30 p.m., when most people were asleep and didn’t know what was coming.
“We suddenly heard gunshots that night. People started to shout and rush in separate directions. “Before we knew what was going on, the bandits had surrounded the whole community,” she added.
Along with 29 other people, she and her four children—Bilki, Safiya, Salim, and Aisha—were kidnapped and brought far into the woods. Babangida reported that the hostages had to walk long distances through thick bushes, and some of them did so barefoot, which made their already poor health even worse.
She added, “During the 13 days I was held captive, I didn’t get any medical help, even though I was very weak and pregnant.”
She said that living in the bandits’ camp was dehumanizing and emotionally hard, with little food and bad service.
“Feeding was a big challenge. It was humiliating how we were given food. I sobbed a lot, especially when I saw my kids in pain. She said, “I wouldn’t want anyone to go through this.”
Things got worse for her when she went into labor while she was being held.
“The bandits didn’t help me when it was time for me to give birth.” “I gave birth with the help of other prisoners who were also scared and helpless,” she claimed.
She had a baby boy and named him Abubakar.
Neither she nor her newborn had any medical attention, which put them both in a weak position.
Babangida asked the government and security forces to step up their rescue attempts, saying she was very worried about her children and the other victims who were still being held.
Kurmin Wali, Ungwan Gamu, and Maro are small towns in Kajuru Local Government Area, which is one of the most dangerous places for bandits and kidnappers in Southern Kaduna. Armed organizations have used the area’s large woodlands and rough terrain over the years to set up hideouts and assault villages.
Investigators found that the robbers faced little or no resistance on Sunday. They broke into three churches during worship services and then easily retreated into neighboring trees. This is a scenario that has grown common in Southern Kaduna.
The kidnappers later got in touch with village leaders and demanded the return of 17 motorcycles that were supposedly taken during previous military operations. This made it even harder to rescue the victims and showed how much power armed organizations still have over rural areas.
At first, the Kaduna State Government and the police denied the kidnapping, but subsequently, security services confirmed it. This made people even angrier and raised more questions about how well the state’s early-warning systems and rapid-response processes work.
How groups respond
After the attack, the Northern Christian Youth Professionals said it was a clear sign that Nigeria’s internal security system wasn’t working. They also said that criminal groups do well when there is no local resistance or intelligence-driven presence.
The group said that forest communities had been left out of security plans for too long, which had left large areas without government and allowed criminals to move freely with kidnapped victims.
The NCYP said in a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Isaac Abrack, and sent to the press yesterday, “The attackers operated without any resistance, a situation that should deeply concern all Nigerians.”
The NCYP claimed that the success of President Bola Tinubu’s plan to revive the Forest Guard rested a lot on who was hired.
The group called for a well-organized, community-driven Forest Guard system again, saying that residents who knew the area should be trained, given the right tools, and included in security operations.
The statement went on to say, “A Forest Guard that keeps out people who live in and understand forest communities will not have the desired effect.”
It went on to say, “Those who live on the front lines and are most affected must be allowed to participate in protecting their lives and property in a structured way.”
“As Northern Christian Youth Professionals who actively campaigned for you (Tinubu) during the 2022/2023 elections, particularly on the promise of a functional Forest Guard, we look forward to returning to our communities in 2027 with a fulfilled promise.”
The Southern and Middle Belt Leadership Forum also spoke out against the recent kidnappings in Southern Kaduna, calling them “heinous, barbaric, and unacceptable.”
The forum, which included Oba Oladipo Olaitan (SMBLF/Afenifere), Dr. Bitrus Pogu (Middle Belt Forum), Senator John Azuta-Mbata (Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide), and Godknows Igali (PANDEF), issued a statement yesterday in Kaduna saying that they stand with the Adara people and other communities that have been affected.
The organization said that the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs in Kaduna State, Sule Shu’aibu (SAN), the Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Rabiu, and the Chairman of Kajuru LG, Madaki Dauda, were wrong to deny the incidence at first. They called it a “grave betrayal of public trust.”
“The criminals were emboldened by this behavior, and it made it harder for emergency responders to do their jobs at a critical time,” the forum added.
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