The United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs has strongly condemned the abduction of more than 160 Christian worshippers in Kaduna State, warning that Washington will not tolerate continued violence against Christians in Nigeria.
The abduction occurred on Sunday when armed bandits stormed churches during worship services in the Kure area of Kajuru Local Government Area, kidnapping congregants en masse.
Initial denials by the Kaduna State Government and the Nigeria Police Force were later reversed, as authorities on Wednesday confirmed that the abductions indeed took place.
Sources familiar with the incident disclosed that the abductors are demanding the return of 17 motorcycles—estimated to be worth about ₦28.9 million—allegedly seized during recent military operations, as a condition for releasing the victims.
Reacting to the attack, the US House Committee on Foreign Affairs, in a statement posted on its verified X (formerly Twitter) account on Wednesday, described the incident as a targeted assault on Christians.
“This past Sunday, Islamic terrorists in Nigeria raided churches and kidnapped more than 168 Christians,” the committee said. “President Trump made it clear: We cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening in Nigeria. The United States will not tolerate the massacre of innocent Christians.”
The condemnation was echoed by the US Under Secretary for Political Affairs, Allison Hooker, who also criticized the attack and called on Nigerian authorities to intensify efforts to protect Christian communities.
Hooker spoke on the issue during a high-level United States–Nigeria Working Group meeting held in Abuja on Thursday, where she stressed the need for stronger security measures.
According to her, the Nigerian government must do more to guarantee the safety of Christians and uphold their constitutional right to freedom of worship without fear of violence or abduction.
The Kaduna incident adds to growing international concern over persistent attacks on religious communities and worsening insecurity across parts of Nigeria.
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