After Meeting Ribadu, Defence Secretary says US Working with Nigeria to End ‘Christian Persecution’

Pete Hegseth, United States defence secretary, says his department is “working aggressively” with Nigeria to end the alleged “persecution of Christians by jihadist terrorists”.

Hegseth spoke after a meeting with Nuhu Ribadu, national security adviser (NSA), in the US on Thursday.

Their meeting took place the same day US congress heard allegations of Christian persecution in Nigeria.

Dan Caine, joint chief’s chairman, was also reported to be in attendance at the meeting.

“Yesterday, I met with Nigeria’s National Security Advisor and his team to discuss the horrific violence against Christians in their country,” Hegseth wrote on X on Friday.

“Under @POTUS leadership, DOW is working aggressively with Nigeria to end the persecution of Christians by jihadist terrorists.”

US President Donald Trump had threatened to instruct the department of war to send troops into Nigeria with “guns-a-blazing” to “wipe out the Islamic Terrorists” he said were killing Christians.

Ribadu, on the directives of President Bola Tinubu, led a high delegation to the US on the matter.

The delegation comprised Bianca Ojukwu, minister of state for foreign affairs; Kayode Egbetokun, inspector general of police (IGP); Lateef Fagbemi, attorney general of the federation (AGF) and minister of justice; and Olufemi Oluyede, chief of defence staff (CDS).

On Wednesday, the team met with Riley Moore, a member of the US house of representatives, in Washington.

During the congressional hearing, Jonathan Pratt, senior official at the US state department’s Bureau of African Affairs, said the state department will work with the Nigerian government on measures, including a task force, to address the alleged Christian persecution in the country.