What You Need to Know
A high-level US delegation, led by Assistant Secretary of State Alison Hooker, visited Nigeria to strengthen security cooperation and address violence against Christians. This visit marks the third of its kind since November, emphasizing the importance of US-Nigeria relations in combating terrorism and organized crime in the region.
Africa-Press. Discussions on security and political matters between Nigeria and the United States continue as part of a new security partnership that began in recent months. This follows US President Donald Trump’s condemnation of what he described as the “inaction of Nigerian authorities” regarding what he termed a “massacre of Christians” in the country.
In this context, a high-level US delegation arrived in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, comprising officials from the US Department of State and the US Africa Command (AFRICOM), led by Alison Hooker, the Assistant Secretary of State for Political Affairs. The delegation held official meetings with several Nigerian officials, including National Security Adviser to President Bola Tinubu, Nuhu Ribadu.
This visit marks the third of its kind for a high-level US delegation to Nigeria since November, following two visits by members of the US Congress at the end of last year to investigate violence targeting Christians in various Nigerian regions. This issue remains at the forefront of American political discourse and is a central focus of bilateral discussions.
During the official meetings in Abuja, Alison Hooker emphasized that the visit is part of joint efforts between the two countries to prevent violence and enhance security and stability. She noted that the United States places special importance on protecting civilians, particularly Christians in certain areas of the country.
She stated: “We are meeting today to discuss our joint efforts to prevent violence against Christians. By focusing on counter-terrorism and addressing insecurity, we aim to reduce Christian fatalities, forced displacement, and kidnappings, especially in central northern Nigeria.”
From the Nigerian side, discussions focused on enhancing security cooperation in combating terrorism and organized crime, emphasizing that this cooperation serves all citizens without discrimination based on religion or ethnicity. National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu affirmed that the security partnership with the United States has yielded tangible results on the ground, noting that the political and security dialogue between the two parties has translated into practical steps and field achievements.
Ribadu stated: “The United States has helped us improve our ability to identify targets and dismantle terrorist networks and transnational criminal elements. We also thank them for the technical and logistical support, which has included providing us with advanced equipment such as drones, helicopters, platforms, spare parts, and accompanying support systems over the past five years.”
According to official sources, this security partnership has contributed to significant field progress, with the special adviser to President Bola Tinubu stating that “hundreds of terrorist elements have been neutralized” in recent months as part of joint operations against armed groups, extremist organizations, and transnational criminal networks.
This American visit to Abuja reflects Nigeria’s importance in the US security strategy in West Africa and underscores the two countries’ commitment to deepening security and political cooperation amid the increasing challenges facing the region, including terrorism, local conflicts, organized crime, and security instability.
The United States and Nigeria have been engaged in security discussions for several months, particularly following US President Donald Trump’s condemnation of the Nigerian government’s inaction regarding violence against Christians. This partnership aims to enhance security and stability in Nigeria, a country facing significant challenges from terrorism and organized crime.
