WASHINGTON — The United States and Nigeria have agreed to strengthen judicial and security institutions to ensure perpetrators of violence are held accountable, making justice and institutional capacity a central focus of their latest bilateral security talks.
The issue was discussed during the second session of the U.S.-Nigeria Joint Working Group (JWG) in Washington on August 12, hosted by U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker and attended by a Nigerian delegation led by National Security Adviser Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, according to a Media Note issued by the U.S. Department of State on August 13.
The Joint Working Group focused on three priority areas, including holding perpetrators of violence accountable through stronger judicial and security institutions, protecting Christian communities in Nigeria’s Middle Belt and expanding military-to-military cooperation.
As part of the accountability discussions, the United States and Nigeria reviewed progress in counterterrorism prosecutions and efforts to strengthen judicial capacity.
The United States noted Nigeria’s reported prosecution of hundreds of Boko Haram and Islamic State-West Africa (ISIS-WA) suspects, as well as the country’s expansion of judicial capacity.
Washington also cited Nigeria’s recruitment and training of 50,000 additional police officers as part of its reported efforts to strengthen security institutions.
The two sides discussed further cooperation on countering terrorism financing, biometric information sharing to support accountability measures and law enforcement capacity building through the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs and Bureau of Counterterrorism.
However, the discussions also identified continuing challenges, including reports of civilian fatalities and gaps in humanitarian expenditure transparency.
The two countries reviewed progress on the resettlement of internally displaced persons (IDPs) to their ancestral homes, while acknowledging that more work remains, particularly in supporting displaced communities.
Military-to-military cooperation was also discussed, with related engagements continuing at the Pentagon.
The latest talks build on the first session of the Joint Working Group held in Abuja on January 22, 2026.
Separately, Hooker met with Ribadu to advance bilateral priorities and reaffirm the United States’ commitment to working with Nigeria to protect Christian communities and deepen security cooperation.
The renewed focus on accountability comes as Washington and Abuja continue efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s judicial, security and law enforcement capacity in response to terrorism and other forms of violence.
Source: U.S. Department of State, Office of the Spokesperson, Media Note, August 13, 2026.
