Abductions in Nigeria have escalated to alarming levels after at least 20 people including a pastor, new bride and her bridesmaids were kidnapped the last weekend of November in two separate attacks in the North Central region of the country.
In Kogi State, gunmen abducted a pastor, his wife and an unconfirmed number of worshippers during a Sunday service at the Cherubim and Seraphin Church. The bride, her bridesmaid and a young mother with a child were among several women kidnapped in Sokoto state the night before, reported AFP and other news outlets.
Other news sources report that over 300 schoolchildren were abducted, including 12 teachers, in an attack that happened on Nov. 19 at a Catholic school in western Nigeria. The students, both male and female, range in age from 10 to 18 years.
This brings to over 400 people that have been kidnapped in November alone according to the UN human rights office. A score of schoolchildren have either escaped or have been rescued by the Nigerian military, but many others remain at large believed to be in the hands of jihadist groups.
Days after the attack at the Catholic school in north-central Niger state, President Bola Tinubu announced that 51 of the missing students had been recovered. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) confirmed that the students had escaped from the captors and reunited with their families.
The Nigerian security forces rescued another 38 worshippers that had been abducted during a church service in Kwara State after gunmen attacked the congregation on Nov. 18.
The attackers demanded a ransom of 100 million naira (roughly $69,000) per worshipper, pointing to the motivation behind the kidnappings. However, CAN labeled the abductions and attacks as religiously motivated incidents.
"We note with deep concern that the Eruku attack adds to a pattern of repeated assaults on Christian populations in vulnerable regions, an issue CAN has consistently raised before government authorities and the international community. Although official responses have often dismissed fears of targeted violence, the frequency and intensity of these incidents continue to provoke legitimate national and global alarm," Archbishop Daniel Okoh, president of the association, stated.
Tinubu pledged to address the surge in abductions and killings across the country by deploying more security officers in the troubled regions. The fresh abductions prompted him to cancel his attendance at the November G20 summit in South Africa.
"Let me be clear: I will not relent. Every Nigerian, in every state, has the right to safety, and under my watch, we will secure this nation and protect our people," the president vowed.
US increases pressure on Nigeria
The United States government intensified pressure on Nigeria to end the wave of killings and attacks on Christians and Christian institutions.
Jonathan Pratt, senior official at the U.S. State Department's Bureau of African Affairs, revealed that plans are underway to compel the Nigerian government to take action against religiously motivated violence.
"The Trump administration is developing a plan to incentivize and compel the Nigerian government to better protect Christian communities and improve religious freedom. This plan will consider U.S. State and Treasury engagement on sanctions, as well as possible Department of Defense engagement on counterterrorism and other efforts to protect religious communities," Pratt told the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee.
He explained that the Secretary of State has directed his department to create a comprehensive plan using "all tools at our disposal," including security assistance and Department of Defense resources.
He clarified that security aid will go to the Nigerian government with specific guidance on how to deploy those resources.
"We're engaged in high-level dialogue with them, including this week at the very highest levels. We're planning engagement on the ground, both through our embassy there and other trips, to make sure that Nigerians hear our very important message that they have to do better," Pratt concluded.
President Donald Trump redesignated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern in October following reports of what he described as Christian persecution. Since then, the country has been divided over whether violence in northern Nigeria stems specifically from religious motivations or reflects broader security challenges.
