Nigeria’s national security adviser holds talks with U.S. defense secretary over Trump’s threat
In a high-stakes diplomatic engagement, Nigeria’s National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, met with United States Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday to address escalating tensions following President Donald Trump’s recent threat of military intervention in Nigeria.
The meeting, confirmed by Hegseth on his official social media account, focused on the U.S. concerns over the reported killings of Christians in Nigeria.
“Yesterday, I met with Nigeria’s National Security Advisor and his team to discuss the horrific violence against Christians in their country,” Hegseth wrote, posting photos of the delegation in Washington.
He added that under Trump’s leadership, the Department of War is actively coordinating with Nigeria to counter attacks by jihadist groups.
Ribadu led a high-level delegation at the direction of President Bola Tinubu, which included Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Bianca Ojukwu, Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, Attorney General Lateef Fagbemi, and Chief of Defence Staff Olufemi Oluyede.
The team’s mission was to engage U.S. officials and clarify Nigeria’s stance on the ongoing insecurity and the claims of systematic persecution.
Trump recently labeled Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC), citing allegations that Christians were being systematically targeted.
He warned that unless the Nigerian government acted decisively to halt what he described as “the genocide of Christians,” U.S. forces could be deployed with military force.
The Nigerian government, however, has consistently rejected these allegations.
Officials emphasised that terrorist attacks in Nigeria have claimed both Muslim and Christian lives and that there is no state-sanctioned campaign targeting any religious group.
The attacks, they insisted, were the work of extremist organisations whose violence is indiscriminate.
Trump’s comments come amid a backdrop of rising insecurity across multiple Nigerian states, with recent kidnappings and killings heightening international concern.
The meeting between Ribadu and Hegseth is viewed as an effort to de-escalate tensions and reassure Washington that Nigeria is taking concrete steps to address security challenges.
The engagement also signaled Nigeria’s commitment to maintain diplomatic dialogue with the United States, while firmly defending its sovereignty and clarifying misconceptions about the nature of the conflict within its borders.
As global attention remains fixed on Nigeria’s security situation, analysts suggest that the outcome of this diplomatic effort could influence U.S.–Nigeria relations and international perceptions of the country’s handling of extremism and intercommunal violence.
Nigeria’s National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, with United States Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in Washington DC, USA.
