The United States has condemned the July 27 attack on a community in Kaduna State that reportedly left at least 30 people dead, including children, while urging the Nigerian government to take stronger measures to curb ongoing violence in the country’s Middle Belt.
In a statement shared on X, the US Bureau of African Affairs expressed condolences to the families of the victims and called on authorities in Nigeria to address repeated attacks affecting communities in the region.
“We condemn 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 stated.
US Representative Riley Moore also reacted to the incident, describing the attack as “terrible” while recognising the progress made through the US-Nigeria security partnership in northern Nigeria. He, however, stressed that more action is required to address the worsening security situation in the Middle Belt.
Moore further called on President Bola Tinubu to prioritise efforts to secure the release of Seminarian Kelvin Ochai, who was recently abducted in Benue State.
“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.
The Kaduna attack is the latest in a series of deadly incidents recorded across the Middle Belt, where communities have faced years of insecurity linked to banditry, kidnapping, communal clashes, and attacks on rural settlements.
Nigeria and the United States have continued to expand security cooperation, including intelligence sharing, military training, and counter-terrorism initiatives. While American officials have acknowledged gains made against insurgent groups in the North-East, they have repeatedly raised concerns over attacks targeting farming communities and places of worship in the Middle Belt.
The latest comments from Washington highlight growing international pressure on the Nigerian government to strengthen civilian protection efforts and address the persistent insecurity affecting vulnerable communities across the region.
