Fresh details have emerged from the meeting between United States Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, as Washington intensifies pressure on Abuja over rising insecurity.
The discussion centred on the surge in attacks linked to extremist groups and the growing threat against Christian communities across Nigeria.
Officials described the meeting as urgent and focused, with the US pushing for tougher and sustained action from the Federal Government.
Hegseth, who hosted the Nigerian delegation at the Pentagon, raised concerns about the continuous killings and the slow response to recent outbreaks of violence.
He later shared highlights of the engagement on his X page, stating:
“Yesterday (Thursday), 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.”
Pentagon officials confirmed that the US Defence Chief urged Nigeria to take “urgent and enduring action to stop violence against Christians.”
He also stated that Washington wants deeper cooperation with Abuja to “deter and degrade terrorists that threaten the United States.”
The meeting comes a month after US President Donald Trump warned that Christian populations in Nigeria were “facing an existential threat.”
Trump cautioned that the US could deploy military assistance if Abuja failed to halt the killings.
Meanwhile, Congressman Riley Moore disclosed that he also met with the Nigerian team in Washington on Wednesday night.
He said the conversation was “frank, honest, and productive,” adding that the dialogue covered counterterrorism support, intelligence sharing, security assistance, and protecting vulnerable groups affected by extremist attacks.
The Nigerian delegation included top government and security figures such as Bianca Ojukwu, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs; Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun; Attorney General of the Federation Lateef Fagbemi (SAN); Chief of Defence Staff General Olufemi Olatunbosun Oluyede; and Chief of Defence Intelligence Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Undiendeye.
The high-level engagements signal heightened US concern and a renewed push for Nigeria to strengthen its internal security response and improve coordination with international partners.
Please, America should not give nigeria money to fight jihad men. And my question is mr Gumi is above the law?
Our govt. jst need to do this right, be proactive in security issues. Prosecute all terroist which one be repentant boko haram. If the want to repent, they should go to jail serve for the all the atrocity & they come out we’ll forgive & accept.
Terrorism had been allowed to thrive in Nigeria due to systemic corruption. Prevention is better than cure, if the government had nipped it in the bud when it started, it would not have become a menace now. We are telling Americans when they want to come in that we have sovereignty but have we told the terrorist organisations also that we have sovereignty? The government should wake up from slumber. Cease from hiding two faces in a chasm.
Can somebody give the true definition of extremists. Do you think it is easy or even possible for an extremists to be deradicalised. An extremists will remain an extremists always for life. Every killer extremists should be killed.
Nigeria is a Muslim country since long time ago because when you look at the naira inscription was writing in Arabic language and our military logo was also in Arabic language that’s was the main purpose Nnamdi kanu was Agitating for Biafra but the fulanis won’t allow him to expose their agenda but now the fulanis terrorists were in agreement with bola Tinubu to jailed Nnamdi kanu because he will continue to expose their secret agenda right now they have transferred kanu to sokoto prison for them to have more easily access to eliminate him
The truth is that the Islamists Terrorist are maintained by Muslims Power against Christians for political gains.
Remember that those in Power brought the Bandits to Nigeria to destabilize Nigeria if Buhari loses the election as a Muslim.
Just weeks ago the same Muslims in power recontracted the Terrorists through the Nigerian Army in an open negotiation.
The Islamic Jihadists are in Nigeria for the Muslim – Muslim agenda.
America is right to say “Islamic Government of Nigeria”.
The Terrorist are working for the Muslim – Muslim (Islamic) agenda to stop a Christian from becoming the president of Nigeria.
This govt
Our government is Muslim so is not surprising that the judge sentence mazi Nnamdi kalu to life in prison for them to be happy
Nigerian Government have really shown themselves that they have have skeletons in their cupboard with the way they are handling the security problem of insurgenc and terrorists in this country. if they are not in support of the terrorists then why did they use the judiciary to sentence a Hunter that defended his family from attacks to death? They killed the poor Hunter bcoz he fought for his family against terrorists attacks. Nigerian Government are hypocrites.
Happy birthday president BOLA AHMED TUNUBU NIGERIA bilateral salubrious cooperations of engineers technology industrial education Court Justice of your country ministry of industry TRANSTEL and nifex industry ABA
Vanatius Reverend father ejike mbaka is a religious swindler on Outline of political brigands fraudulent activity
The kabals that forced themselves into power as Nigerian Government are the Main instigators of terrorism in Nigeria bcoz they relax and enjoy seeing the killing of innocent souls by terrorists as the terrorists sloughter innocent souls with the knife and post it to them via cameras and sometimes online for the world to see. the government pretend they don’t see such things, secondly how do you allow such terrorists to hold ceremony and marriage in the people community and post it on cameras and you do nothing about it.the terrorists now have their own villages and communities which they have taken over Friday innocent souls in Nigeria and they live there comfortableness without being questioned.Nigerian Government are Anticholinergic and Hypocrites
Just split the country and allow everybody goes in separate way ,why northern Nigeria is always the problem of this country. Now APC government has started the nepotism every president wants his tribe in key position in Nigeria.
American should come in, built-in Nigerian their military base so they can witness for themselves how wicked our governments, works hand in hand with terrorists, bandits and helmsmen in Nigeria. Please my president (Donald Trump) help us out.
Bola Ahmed Tinubu is now facing the law of karma.Let him feel the moment.There is no man bigger than God.