In one of the strongest messages yet from Washington to Abuja, U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has issued a direct warning to the Nigerian government, demanding “urgent and enduring action to stop violence against Christians.”
Hegseth delivered the message on November 20 during a high-level meeting at the Pentagon with Nigeria’s delegation led by National Security Advisor Mallam Nuhu Ribadu. According to official information published on U.S. government .gov platforms, the session focused squarely on Nigeria’s worsening religious violence and the spike in attacks on Christian communities.
In a readout released by Sean Parnell, Assistant to the Secretary of War for Public Affairs, the U.S. made it clear that Abuja would now be expected to show tangible, measurable progress.
According to Parnell, Hegseth used the closed-door meeting to press Nigeria for “concrete steps” to halt the killings, abductions, and terror incidents that continue to devastate Christian communities, stressing that Washington is elevating the issue to the top of its Africa security agenda.
In language unusually frank for diplomatic communication, Hegseth insisted Nigeria must “demonstrate commitment” to protecting its Christian population and warned that the U.S. expects immediate results.
He added that the United States remains willing to work “by, with, and through” Nigeria to dismantle jihadist networks and violent extremist groups destabilising West Africa and threatening American interests.
Security analysts describe the meeting as a turning point in U.S.–Nigeria relations—signaling a shift from general cooperation to performance-based expectations, particularly on issues involving religiously targeted violence.
Ribadu’s visit comes amid mounting global pressure on the Nigerian government from human-rights organisations, faith-based groups, and members of the U.S. Congress, all of whom accuse Nigeria of failing to adequately respond to years of killings across the Middle Belt, Northwest, and Northeast.
Experts say Washington’s new posture—direct, forceful, and on the record—indicates that the Trump administration may be prepared to link future security cooperation to Nigeria’s willingness to take decisive action.
The killing of christians is much especially in Northern part of Nigeria, please come for our rescue