US Congress reacts to abduction of 166 worshippers from Kaduna churches

The United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs has reacted to the recent abduction of 166 worshippers from two churches in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna by some suspected terrorists.

The House committee in a post on X reiterated President Donald Trump’s proclamation that the US would not stand and watch the continued persecution and killing of Christians in Nigeria by Islamic terrorists.

According to the House, these killings by terrorists operating in the northern part of the country will not be tolerated

It said, “This past Sunday, Islamic terrorists in Nigeria raided churches and kidnapped more than 168 Christians.

“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 noted.

Trump had in the past made proclamations on Nigeria over the alleged persecution of Christians across the country.

Having declared Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern, the US government on December 26, also carried out an air strike which targeted terrorists in their suspected enclave in Sokoto State.

Weeks after the airstrike, terrorists carried out a large-scale abduction in Kajuru, with a total of 177 worshippers kidnapped from the Cherubim and Seraphim Church 1 and Cherubim and Seraphim Church 2 in Kurmin Wali Community, Kajuru LGA on Janiary 18.

Sources privy to the incident said 11 of the victims who were kidnapped managed to escape leaving 166 others – including women and children – in captivity.

While the police and the Kaduna state government have confirmed the abductions, the leadership of the Northern Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has called for the immediate rescue of the worshippers.