The United States has called for urgent and enduring action from Nigeria to address what it perceives as persecution against Christians in the country. This demand was made during a Thursday meeting between U.S. Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, and Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, at the Pentagon. The discussion focused on strategies to curb the rising violence against Christians in Nigeria and bolster counter-terrorism efforts across West Africa.
According to a statement released on Friday by Sean Parnell, Assistant to the Secretary of War for Public Affairs, Hegseth communicated to Ribadu that Washington expects decisive action from the Nigerian government to stop religiously motivated killings and dismantle jihadist networks in the region.
The meeting, held privately, is part of increased engagement between the two nations following the United States’ recent redesignation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” due to alleged violations of religious freedom.
Hegseth highlighted the U.S.’s readiness to collaborate with Nigeria to weaken terror groups threatening both Nigerian citizens and American interests.
Ribadu led a delegation of Nigerian security officials to the Pentagon, where they also addressed wider regional security issues, including the activities of Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and other jihadist groups operating in the Sahel.
The U.S. statement did not offer additional details on commitments made by either side.
