The United States has demand “urgent action from Nigeria United States Secr and enduring” action from Nigeria in dealing with what it considers persecution against Christians in Nigeria. This was made clear during Thursday’s meeting between secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, and Nigeria’s National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, at the Pentagon, with both sides discussing steps to halt rising violence against Christians in Nigeria and strengthen counter-terrorism efforts across West Africa.
According to a readout issued on Friday by Assistant to the Secretary of War for Public Affairs, Sean Parnell, Hegseth told Ribadu that Washington expects “urgent and enduring action” from the Nigerian government to curb religiously targeted killings and dismantle jihadist networks in the region.
The meeting, which was held behind closed doors, forms part of intensified engagement between both countries following the United States’ recent redesignation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” over alleged violations of religious freedom.
Hegseth emphasised the willingness of the US to work “by, with, and through” Nigeria to degrade terror groups viewed as a threat to both Nigerian citizens and American interests.
Ribadu led a delegation of Nigerian security officials to the Pentagon for the talks, which also focused on broader regional security challenges, including the activities of Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and other jihadist factions operating across the Sahel.
The US statement did not provide further details of commitments made by either side.
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