United States defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, says his department is “working aggressively” with Nigeria to confront the alleged “persecution of Christians by jihadist terrorists”.
Hegseth made the remarks after meeting Nuhu Ribadu, Nigeria’s national security adviser (NSA), in the US on Thursday.
Their discussion occurred on the same day the US congress reviewed claims of Christian persecution in Nigeria. Dan Caine, joint chief’s chairman, was also reported to have attended 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 previously warned that he could direct the department of war to deploy troops to Nigeria with “guns-a-blazing” to “wipe out the Islamic Terrorists” he said were behind attacks on Christians.
Acting on instructions from President Bola Tinubu, Ribadu led a high-level delegation to the United States on the issue.
The delegation included 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 delegation held a meeting with Riley Moore, a member of the US house of representatives, in Washington.
During the congressional hearing, Jonathan Pratt, a senior official with the US state department’s Bureau of African Affairs, said the state department would collaborate with the Nigerian government on measures, including a task force, to confront the reported Christian persecution in the country.