"US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth Meets with Nuhu Ribadu Amid Allegations of Christian Genocide"

Table of Contents

1. High-Level Meeting
2. Official Statement
3. U.S. Concerns
4. Human Rights Organizations
5. Casualty Statistics
6. Presidential Warnings
7. Religious Freedom Violations

The United States Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, conducted a high-level meeting with Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and his delegation at the Pentagon. The discussion focused on what the Trump administration has termed escalating and ‘horrific violence’ against Christian communities in Nigeria, primarily carried out by jihadist terror groups.

In a statement shared on his official X account, @SecWar, Hegseth stated: “Yesterday, I met with Nigeria’s National Security Advisor and his team to address the horrific violence against Christians in their country. Under @POTUS leadership, DOW is working diligently with Nigeria to put an end to the persecution of Christians by jihadist terrorists.”

The message included photographs of the meeting, depicting formal introductions and a private dialogue.

This engagement arises amidst heightened U.S. concern regarding Nigeria’s security situation, particularly in the northern and Middle Belt regions, where Boko Haram, ISWAP, and armed Fulani militants have been associated with widespread attacks.

Human rights organizations, such as Open Doors and the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law, continue to raise alarms regarding the increasing fatalities.

Recent reports indicate that over 7,000 Christians were killed in the first seven months of 2025, averaging more than 30 deaths per day, due to mass killings, kidnappings, and assaults on churches and remote farming communities.

The meeting also follows a series of stern warnings from President Donald Trump, who has threatened potential U.S. military action if Nigeria does not control extremist violence.

Trump has mentioned that American forces could be deployed ‘guns-a-blazing’ to confront Islamist militants if necessary.

Earlier this year, the U.S. administration reinstated Nigeria on the list of “Countries of Particular Concern” for violations of religious freedom, reversing the previous delisting, and tied future American support to visible progress in protecting vulnerable religious minorities.