Nuhu Ribadu
Nuhu Ribadu, the national security adviser, has met Pete Hegseth, United States defense secretary, following US President Donald Trump’s threat on Nigeria.
Trump said he would instruct the department of war to send troops into Nigeria with “guns-a-blazing” to “wipe out the Islamic Terrorists” he said were killing Christians.
Ribadu, on the directives of President Bola Tinubu, led a high-delegation to the United States on the matter.
The delegation comprised Bianca Ojukwu, minister of state for foreign affairs; Kayode Egbetokun, inspector general of police (IGP); Lateef Fagbemi, attorney general of the federation; and Olufemi Oluyede, chief of defence staff.
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On Wednesday, the team met with Riley Moore, a member of the US house of representatives, in Washington.
Moore has been one of the US politicians insistent on claims of Christian persecution in Nigeria.
ABC news reported that two defense officials confirmed Ribadu’s meeting with Hegseth. Dan Caine, joint chiefs chairman, also joined in on the meeting Thursday evening.
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But the meeting was not included on Hegseth or Caine’s public schedules, and Ribadu’s arrival was not open to the press.
The said meeting held the same day congress heard allegations of Christian persecution in Nigeria.
During the hearing, Jonathan Pratt, senior official at the US state department’s Bureau of African Affairs, confirmed that the delegation would meet with state department officials as well as department of war officials.
Pratt also said the state department will work with the Nigerian government on measures, including a task force, to address the alleged Christian persecution in the country.
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Meanwhile, Sara Jacobs, a member of the US house of representatives, said Trump’s threat to deploy military action in Nigeria was reckless.
Jacobs said Congress has not authorised force in Nigeria, adding that any action without Nigeria’s consent violates international law.
