The United States Under Secretary for Political Affairs, Allison Hooker, has called on the Federal Government to do everything in its power to ensure that Christians in Nigeria are protected to practise their faith freely and safely.
Hooker, according to Daily Sun. made the call at the US–Nigeria Joint Working Group meeting held at the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) in Abuja.
The meeting comes a few days after gunmen attacked three churches and abducted over 170 worshippers in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
Hooker, who said the December 25 US airstrikes conducted in Sokoto State were closely coordinated with Nigerian forces, disclosed that the United States will continue to work with Nigeria to defeat terrorist groups in the country.
While commending Nigeria for ordering the recruitment of an additional 20,000 police officers for deployment to protect vulnerable communities since President Trump’s engagement, the Under Secretary also praised the arraignment of nine suspects involved in the June massacre in Benue State and the arrest of 39 suspects allegedly fleeing Sokoto State after the Department of War authorised strikes on December 25.
The Under Secretary, who lauded the Nigerian government for securing the release of 38 Christians abducted from a church in Kwara State and another 265 abducted from St Mary’s Catholic School, said these gains were a direct result of the United States’ engagement with the Nigerian government.
Hooker, who expressed worry over the recent abduction of more than 170 Christians in Kaduna State on January 18, 2026, said: “The government of Nigeria must do more to protect Christians and their right to practice their faith freely and safely.”
She called on local government leaders to work with NGOs to meet the needs of the victims’ families.
She added: “Advancing religious freedom and security will help the United States and Nigeria to enhance the reciprocal benefits of our relationship: solidifying trade and economic deals, degrading terrorist groups that threaten our interests, and strengthening health responses, among many other areas.”
The Under Secretary urged the government to identify ways to return internally displaced persons to the communities from which they were expelled in the North Central states.
She further urged the government to block weapons and funding going to terrorist groups and to expand investigations and ensure the prosecution of individuals and groups committing atrocities.
