The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, has held a crucial meeting in Washington with U.S. Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth as tensions continue to rise over allegations of widespread killings of Christians in Nigeria
Hegseth revealed the engagement on his X account on Friday, noting that Ribadu and a delegation from Abuja visited him on Thursday to address mounting concerns over religious violence.
His post read: “Yesterday, I met with Nigeria’s National Security Advisor and his team to discuss the horrific violence against Christians in their country. Under @POTUS leadership, DOW is working aggressively with Nigeria to end the persecution of Christians by jihadist terrorists.”
The visit followed Donald Trump’s recent ultimatum in which he claimed Christians were being “systematically targeted” in Nigeria. Trump had warned that he was prepared to order the Department of War to deploy American troops “guns blazing” into Nigeria to “wipe out the Islamic terrorists” allegedly behind the killings.
In response to the escalating rhetoric, President Bola Tinubu directed Ribadu to lead a senior government team to the United States. The delegation comprised the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Ojukwu; the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi; and the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede.
Photos from the meeting showed Hegseth observing as Ribadu signed the visitors’ register at the Pentagon.
Trump had placed Nigeria on a list of “Countries of Particular Concern,” insisting the country was witnessing a coordinated “genocide of Christians.” He also warned that failure to halt the situation would provoke direct U.S. intervention under his administration.
Nigerian authorities have repeatedly pushed back on Trump’s assertions, stressing that extremist attacks in the country affect both Muslims and Christians, and that no government policy endorses any form of religious persecution. The dispute comes at a time when several regions across Nigeria continue to grapple with deadly attacks, mass abductions, and persistent insecurity.
Follow Us on Facebook – @LadunLiadi; Instagram – @LadunLiadi; Twitter – @LadunLiadi; Youtube – @LadunLiadiTV for updates
