The National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, has held a crucial meeting in Washington with U.S. Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth as diplomatic tensions continue to rise over allegations of widespread killings of Christians in Nigeria.
Secretary Hegseth revealed the engagement on his X account on Friday, confirming that Ribadu and a senior 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.”
Context of Trump’s Ultimatum
The visit was mandated by President Bola Tinubu following 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 (DOW) to deploy American troops “guns blazing” into Nigeria to “wipe out the Islamic terrorists” allegedly behind the killings.
High-Level Nigerian Delegation
The Nigerian delegation, led by NSA Ribadu, was deployed to counter the narrative of systemic religious persecution and seek targeted collaboration instead of unilateral military action. The team comprised several senior government figures:
- Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Ojukwu
- Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun
- Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi
- Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede
Photos from the meeting showed Hegseth observing as Ribadu signed the visitors’ register at the Pentagon.
Nigeria’s Position
Trump had previously placed Nigeria on a list of “Countries of Particular Concern,” insisting the country was witnessing a coordinated “genocide of Christians.”
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.
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. pic.twitter.com/NPjh2Gcp9b
— Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (@SecWar) November 21, 2025
Source: Africa Publicity
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