US Calls for Action After Kaduna Attack as Congressman Presses Tinubu on Middle Belt Security

The United States has condemned the deadly July 27 attack on a Kaduna State community that reportedly left at least 30 people dead, including children, with US Representative Riley Moore urging President Bola Tinubu to step up efforts to address persistent violence in Nigeria’s Middle Belt.

In a statement shared on X, the US Bureau of African Affairs described the attack as tragic and extended condolences to the victims’ families while calling for stronger action against violence targeting Christian communities in the region.

“The United States condemns the early morning July 27 attack on a village in Nigeria’s Kaduna State that reportedly killed at least 30 people, including children.”

“We express our deepest condolences to the loved ones of the deceased. We will continue to urge the Government of Nigeria to address rampant violence against Christians in the Middle Belt,” the bureau said.

Responding to the attack, Congressman Riley Moore said the reports from the Middle Belt were “terrible,” noting that although the US-Nigeria security cooperation had recorded successes in northern Nigeria, more attention was needed in the Middle Belt.

He specifically appealed to President Tinubu to strengthen security efforts and ensure the safe return of kidnapped seminarian Kelvin Ochai.

“President Tinubu must do more to address the violence in the Middle Belt, including securing the safe return of this seminarian,” Moore wrote on X.

No additional information was provided regarding the circumstances surrounding Ochai’s abduction in Benue State.

The Kaduna attack adds to a string of violent incidents that have affected communities across the Middle Belt, a region that has experienced repeated attacks associated with banditry, kidnappings and communal unrest.

The US and Nigerian governments last year launched a security cooperation framework covering intelligence sharing, training and counter-terrorism operations. While American officials have highlighted progress against insurgency in the North-East, they have continued to express concern over attacks on farming communities and places of worship in the Middle Belt.

The Bureau of African Affairs said the United States remains committed to encouraging stronger protection for civilians and vulnerable religious communities across the region.

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