The United States Defence Secretary, Pete Hegseth, has called on the Nigerian government to take decisive steps to curb violence targeting Christians.
Hegseth made the call during a meeting with Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
According to the Pentagon, Hegseth used the meeting, held on Thursday, to express concern over the rising attacks in Nigeria.
The Defence Secretary wrote on his X handle on Friday,
Yesterday (Thursday), I met with Nigeria’s National Security Advisor and his team to discuss the horrific violence against Christians in their country. Under @POTUS leadership, DOW is working aggressively with Nigeria to end the persecution of Christians by jihadist terrorists.”
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement that Hegseth urged Nigeria to “take both urgent and enduring action to stop violence against Christians,” adding that Washington seeks closer cooperation with Abuja “to deter and degrade terrorists that threaten the United States.
The meeting, held at the Pentagon, followed recent remarks by US President Donald Trump, who claimed that Christianity was “facing an existential threat” in Nigeria.
