Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, has held crucial talks with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in Washington, aiming to de-escalate tensions following President Donald Trump’s threat to deploy military action against Nigeria.
The meeting, confirmed by two defence officials, was not publicly scheduled and kept under wraps, with Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine also in attendance.
Ribadu, leading a high-powered delegation on the directives of President Bola Tinubu, reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to resolving the issue diplomatically.
The delegation, comprising Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Bianca Ojukwu, Police Inspector General Kayode Egbetokun, Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) and Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, had earlier met with US Representative Riley Moore, a vocal advocate for addressing alleged Christian persecution in Nigeria.
The talks come after Trump’s statement threatening to send troops into Nigeria “guns-a-blazing” to counter Islamic terrorists, drawing criticism from US lawmakers.
Sara Jacobs, a member of the US House of Representatives, condemned Trump’s threat as reckless, emphasizing that Congress hasn’t authorized force in Nigeria and any unilateral action would breach international law.
Meanwhile, the US State Department is working with Nigeria on measures, including a task force, to address the alleged Christian persecution, according to Jonathan Pratt, a senior State Department official.
Persecondnews reported that Nigeria had rejected its inclusion on the US list of countries violating religious freedom, calling it misinformed.
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