Washington and Abuja Tackle Faith Protection and Terror Accountability in High-Stakes Talks

The second round of the U.S.-Nigeria Joint Working Group convened in Washington this week, with a sharp focus on shielding Christian communities in Nigeria’s Middle Belt and ensuring that those who commit violence face justice. The session, hosted by Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker, drew a Nigerian delegation led by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu.

The State Department’s Friday readout outlined three core areas of discussion: safeguarding Christian populations in the Middle Belt, strengthening judicial and security institutions to hold perpetrators accountable, and deepening military-to-military cooperation. Both delegations also reviewed progress on the return of internally displaced persons to their ancestral lands, counterterrorism prosecutions, and efforts to choke off terrorist financing.

Despite the cooperative tone, the talks exposed persistent hurdles. Officials flagged recurring civilian fatalities and a lack of transparency in humanitarian spending as continuing challenges that demand urgent attention.

Washington acknowledged Nigeria’s reported strides in prosecuting hundreds of terror suspects, expanding judicial capacity, and recruiting and training 50,000 additional police officers. The two governments agreed to maintain close coordination on countering terrorism financing and to expand biometric information sharing to bolster accountability measures.

Law enforcement capabilities are set to receive a boost through the State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs and the Bureau of Counterterrorism, signaling a hands-on U.S. commitment to institutional growth.

In a private sideline conversation with Ribadu, Hooker reiterated Washington’s dedication to partnering with Nigeria on protecting Christian communities and advancing joint security cooperation. The Nigerian delegation also made a stop at the Pentagon on Thursday, where talks with U.S. defense officials centered on military collaboration.

The first session of the working group took place in Abuja on January 22, laying the groundwork for this week’s follow-up discussions.