The United States Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, has held a high-level security meeting with Nigeria’s National Security Advisor, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, at the Pentagon.

According to a statement published on the official website of the US Government’s Department of War, the Assistant to the Secretary of War for Public Affairs and Senior Advisor, Sean Parnell, disclosed that discussions centred on strengthening cooperation to curb violence against Christians in Nigeria and intensifying joint efforts against jihadist terrorist groups operating across West Africa.

Secretary Hegseth reiterated the United States’ concern over continued attacks on Christian communities, stressing the need for Nigeria to demonstrate firm commitment and take both urgent and sustained measures to address the crisis.

He further emphasized the Department’s readiness to work by, with, and through Nigerian security institutions to deter and degrade terrorist organisations that pose threats to the United States and regional stability.