US and Nigeria Security Chiefs Meet

Pentagon, Washington D.C. — 25 November, 2025

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

According to a press statement released on the official website of the U.S. Government Department of War, Sean Parnell—Assistant to the Secretary of War for Public Affairs and Senior Advisor—said the meeting focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation to curb rising violence against Christians in Nigeria and intensifying efforts to combat jihadist terrorist groups operating across West Africa.
Parnell noted that both security chiefs exchanged views on avenues for tangible progress in addressing religiously targeted violence and countering extremist networks whose activities threaten regional stability.

Secretary Hegseth emphasized that Nigeria must demonstrate firm commitment through both urgent and sustained actions to halt violence against Christian communities. He also reaffirmed the Department’s readiness to work “by, with, and through” Nigerian security institutions to deter and degrade terrorist organizations that pose risks not only to Nigeria but to the United States as well.

The meeting forms part of ongoing efforts to deepen U.S.–Nigeria security collaboration and enhance coordinated counterterrorism strategies across the region.