The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, has met with United States Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, amid rising tensions following US President Donald Trump’s recent threat to deploy American troops to Nigeria.
Hegseth confirmed the meeting in a post on his official X handle on Friday, saying he received Ribadu and his team to discuss attacks on Christians in Nigeria.
“Yesterday, I met with Nigeria’s National Security Advisor and his team to discuss the horrific violence against Christians in their country,” he wrote, sharing photos from the meeting. “Under @POTUS leadership, the Department of War is working aggressively with Nigeria to end the persecution of Christians by jihadist terrorists.”
President Trump had earlier warned that he would instruct the US Department of War to send troops into Nigeria “guns-a-blazing” to “wipe out the Islamic terrorists” he claims are killing Christians in the country.
In response, President Bola Tinubu directed Ribadu to lead a high-level delegation to Washington for urgent consultations. The delegation includes Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Bianca Ojukwu, Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, Attorney-General of the Federation Lateef Fagbemi, and Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Olufemi Oluyede.
Genocide claims
Trump recently returned Nigeria to the “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) list, alleging systematic killings of Christians and accusing the Nigerian government of failing to protect them. He further warned that the US would take military action if Abuja did not stop what he described as “the genocide of Christians.”
The Nigerian government has rejected the allegations, insisting that terrorist attacks in the country target both Muslims and Christians, and that there is no policy or pattern of religious persecution. Officials argue that insecurity in Nigeria is driven by terrorism, banditry, and organised crime, not state-backed religious violence.
Trump’s comments come amid worsened insecurity across several states, where gunmen have abducted and killed dozens in recent weeks.
