U.S. Lawmakers Condemn Kaduna Church Abductions, Warn Against Violence on Christians
By: Israel Adeleke
OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News reports as gathered that the United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs has condemned the abduction of more than 160 worshippers from churches in Kaduna State, warning that Washington will not tolerate violence or mass killings of Christians in Nigeria.
OTN News recalls that the attack occured on Sunday when armed bandits storm churches during worship services in the Kure area of Kajuru Local Government Area, Kaduna State, abducting over 160 congregants and causing widespread panic within the communities.
In the immediate aftermath, both the Kaduna State Government and the Nigeria Police Force initially deny that any abduction took place.
However, authorities later confirmed on Wednesday that worshippers were indeed kidnapped during the coordinated attacks.
Sources familiar with the incident disclosed that the abductors are demanding the return of 17 motorcycles allegedly seized during recent military operations as a condition for releasing the victims. The motorcycles are said to be valued at about ₦28.9 million.
Reacting strongly to the development, the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs issues a statement on its verified X account, describing 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 states.
“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 committee added.
OTN News observes that the condemnation added to growing international concern over persistent attacks on religious communities in parts of Nigeria, particularly in the North-West and North-Central regions.
Similarly, the U.S. Under Secretary for Political Affairs, Allison Hooker, also condemned the abduction and called on the Nigerian government to intensify efforts to protect Christian communities and uphold freedom of worship.
OTN News further observes that Hooker made the call during a high-level United States–Nigeria Working Group meeting held in Abuja on Thursday.
She stressed that Nigerian authorities must take concrete steps to guarantee the safety of Christians and safeguard their constitutional right to practice their faith without fear or intimidation.
The Kaduna abduction underscored the worsening security situation in parts of northern Nigeria, where banditry, kidnappings and attacks on civilians have continued despite ongoing military and security operations.
As of the time of reporting, security agencies are said to be working to secure the release of the abducted worshippers, while pressure mounts on the Nigerian government to address growing concerns over religiously motivated violence and the protection of vulnerable communities.
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