Nigerian Church divided over US strikes as talks shaken by abductions

The first meeting of the US-Nigeria Working Group formed to discuss responses to insecurity was shaken by the abduction of more than 170 Christians from Sunday services in Kaduna state.

Church leaders in Nigeria were divided about the effectiveness of US strikes targeting jihadists in protecting the country’s Christians.

Fr Patrick Alumuku, director of the Catholic Television of Nigeria, said the strikes on Christmas Day were “a providential and decisive turning point”, directly crediting them with improved security.

“We thank Donald Trump for what he has done,” he told The Tablet, pointing out that “for the first time in 15 years, no church was attacked this past Christmas in 2025”.

Conversely, Emeka Umeagbalasi, director of the Catholic-inspired group Intersociety, the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law, argued that the intervention only prompted superficial changes by the government, which he insisted remained complicit in Chirstian persecution.

Although “Trump’s pressure, international pressure, is working”, Umeagbalasi said, Nigerian leaders were endeavouring to camouflage the situation to appease world opinion. He voiced scepticism about the effect of the strikes, observing that “as for having an impact in terms of safety of Christians, I don’t think so”.

He warned that “Islamisation is going on” and “genocide against Christians has continued to be intensified”.

On 22 January, the US-Nigeria Working Group held its first meeting in Abuja to discuss government responses to President Trump’s decision last year to designate Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern under the International Religious Freedom Act.

The group was established to develop plans to reduce violence against vulnerable groups in Nigeria, particularly Christians, and to allow all Nigerians to practise their faith unimpeded by terrorists, separatists, bandits and criminal militias who wish to inflict harm on civilians regardless of faith.

Discussions were shaken, however, by the abduction of more than 170 Christians from Sunday services in Kaduna state four days earlier, prompting US threats of further military action unless the Nigerian governments acts to secure their release.

Bandits seized the worshippers from churches in Kurmin Wali village, Kajuru Local Government Area, on 18 January, and their location was unknown as of a week later. The Tablet understands that the bandits were seen moving away with their victims in the forest unchallenged by security forces.

Police initially denied that any abduction had taken place, but sustained pressure from the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) last week forced the authorities to acknowledge the incident. 

On Sunday the local CAN branch held prayers for the abductees’ release at Tawaliu Baptist Church in Maraban Kajuru, with Christian leaders from across Kaduna state and the wider northern region, as families of the abducted worshippers.

Kurmin Wali, Ungwan Gamu and Maro are rural communities in Kajuru Local Government Area, one of the centres of banditry in Southern Kaduna. The area is dominated by forests and difficult terrain, which armed groups have exploited over the years to establish bases and carry out attacks on rural communities.

Residents of Kajuru have suffered repeated incidents of mass abductions, killings and destruction of farmland, with many forced to flee their homes at various times due to insecurity. Despite sustained military operations in parts of Southern Kaduna, bandits have continued to stage attacks, often targeting places of worship, farms and roads.

The bandits contacted Kurmin Wali community leaders demanding the return of 17 motorcycles allegedly lost during recent military operations in the area as a condition for the release of the victims.

Kaduna state has become a focus for the government’s political response to the national security crisis, with President Bola Tinubu reportedly seeking a Christian from a northern state to be his running mate in the 2027 presidential election. 

In their comments to The Tablet, both Alumuku and Umeagbalasi acknowledged this may be a result of US pressure.  Some have suggested the Bishop of Sokoto Mathew Hassan Kukah, a Kaduna native, could be a suitable candidate, though he has declined to comment on the issue.

On Sunday, Kaduna state’s Governor Uba Sani visited the wife and daughter of an Anglican priest murdered by kidnappers last year. 

Bandits abducted the Ven Edwin Achi with his wife Sarah and their daughter from their residence in the Nissi community, Chikun local government area, in October. They later killed Achi when the Church and his family could not raise the 200 million Naira ransom they demanded. Sarah Achi and her daughter were released after two months.

Governor Sani met them at the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Kaduna, in the company of the Anglican Archbishop of Kaduna Province Timothy Yahaya. He offered the state’s condolences and assured them of its support.

“This includes the provision of a home, full sponsorship of the children’s education, settlement of all medical expenses, and sustained psychosocial care to aid their recovery and reintegration into society,” he said.

Sani explained that these interventions reflected his administration commitment to standing with victims of banditry and ensuring that compassion, justice and human dignity remain at the centre of governance.

“It was a moment of deep solemnity, and I expressed my heartfelt sympathies as the family confronts grief and the long path to healing,” he said. “Their sacrifice and dedication continue to strengthen public confidence in our security architecture.”

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