US lawmakers warn Nigeria over Kaduna church abductions

United States lawmakers have condemned the mass abduction of worshippers from churches in Kaduna State, warning that Washington will not tolerate continued attacks on Christian communities in Nigeria.

The US House Foreign Affairs Committee said in a statement posted on its verified X account that armed men, described as Islamic terrorists, raided churches in Kaduna and kidnapped more than 160 worshippers during Sunday services.

The committee quoted US President Donald Trump as saying the United States could not stand by while innocent Christians were being targeted and abducted.

Authorities initially denied that any abduction had taken place. Still, the Kaduna State Government later confirmed coordinated attacks on three churches in Kurmin Wali community, Kajuru Local Government Area, where worshippers were seized during services.

Meanwhile, the US Under Secretary for Political Affairs, Allison Hooker, speaking at a US–Nigeria working group meeting in Abuja, urged Nigerian authorities to strengthen security for Christian communities and guarantee freedom of worship nationwide.

Both the House Foreign Affairs Committee and senior US officials called for urgent action to locate the abducted worshippers and ensure those responsible are brought to justice.

Sources said the kidnappers had demanded the return of 17 motorcycles seized by security forces during recent military operations as a condition for releasing the victims.

Rights groups and opposition figures criticised the initial denial of the attacks by local authorities and called for transparent investigations.

Nigeria’s security agencies are under growing pressure from the public to secure vulnerable communities and stem the wave of abductions and attacks in rural areas.