After a meeting with Nigeria’s National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that the Department of Defense is “working aggressively” with Nigeria to end the alleged persecution of Christians by jihadist militants.
The discussion took place on November 20, 2025, the same day Congress heard testimonies highlighting Christian persecution in Nigeria. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs, was also present 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.
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