In what analysts describe as one of Washington’s most direct messages to Abuja in recent years, U.S Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has delivered a stern warning to the Nigerian government, demanding urgent, sustained action to end violence against Christians across the country.
The warning was issued on November 20 during a high-level meeting at the Pentagon with Nigeria’s delegation led by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu.
According to information published on official U.S. government platforms, the discussions centered on Nigeria’s worsening religiously motivated attacks and the rising death toll in Christian communities.
A readout released by Sean Parnell, Assistant to the Secretary of War for Public Affairs, made it clear that Washington now expects measurable progress, not promises.
Parnell stated that Hegseth used the closed-door meeting to demand “concrete steps” from Nigeria to halt killings, kidnappings, and terror incidents targeting Christian populations.
He emphasized that the United States is elevating the matter to the top of its Africa security priorities.
Using language far more forceful than typical diplomatic communications, Hegseth insisted Nigeria must “demonstrate commitment” to protecting Christians and warned that the U.S expects immediate improvements.
He added that the United States remains ready to work “by, with, and through” Nigeria to combat jihadist groups and extremist networks destabilizing West Africa and posing threats to American interests.
Security experts say the meeting marks a shift in U.S, Nigeria relations, from broad cooperation to performance-based expectations, especially on issues tied to religious persecution.
Ribadu’s visit comes as international pressure mounts on the Nigerian government from rights groups, faith organizations, and members of the U.S Congress, who accuse Nigeria of failing to adequately address years of targeted killings in the Middle Belt, Northwest, and Northeast.
Some analysts suggest that the Trump administration’s new posture, blunt, direct, and public, signals a willingness to tie future security cooperation to Nigeria’s actions on religiously targeted violence.
