US Urges Nigeria to Take Action Against Violence Against Christians

The US has called on Nigeria to take concrete steps to curb violence against Christians in the country. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth met with Nigerian National Security Advisor Nuhu Ribadu at the Pentagon, emphasizing the need for Nigeria to “take both urgent and enduring action to stop violence against Christians”

The meeting between Hegseth and Ribadu comes after US President Donald Trump’s warning that the US would take military action against Nigeria if the country fails to stem the killings of Christians. Trump stated that the US would attack and “it will be fast, vicious, and sweet” if Nigeria doesn’t take action

Nigeria has rejected the US designation of the country as a “Country of Particular Concern” over alleged religious freedom violations. The Nigerian government maintains that the country’s security challenges are being addressed through established national and regional mechanisms, rather than through foreign military intervention

The conflict in Nigeria is complex, with both Christians and Muslims being killed in jihadist insurgencies. Clashes between mostly Muslim herders and mainly Christian farmers over land and resources have also been frequent, giving the conflict an air of religious tensions. However, experts say the conflict in north-central Nigeria is primarily over land, which is being squeezed by expanding populations and climate change

The US and Nigeria are working together to address the security challenges in the country. The US wants to work with Nigeria “to deter and degrade terrorists that threaten the United States”. The meeting between Hegseth and Ribadu is seen as an effort to maintain strong bilateral relations and prevent misinformation from escalating into diplomatic friction