The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has confirmed that United States troops are currently in Nigeria, but firmly denied claims that they are involved in combat operations. According to the military, the American personnel are in the country strictly for capacity building, intelligence sharing, logistics support, professional military education, and strategic dialogue with Nigerian forces. The clarification follows public concerns after reports of US military deployment surfaced earlier in the week.

Reacting to the reports, the Director of Defence Information, Major-General Samaila Uba, explained that Nigeria has a long-standing security partnership with the United States. He said the cooperation is aimed at tackling common threats such as terrorism, banditry, and transnational crime, while fully respecting Nigeria’s sovereignty. Uba stressed that all engagements are conducted under existing bilateral agreements and do not involve foreign troops taking charge of operations on Nigerian soil.

The clarification also followed a statement by US Africa Command (AFRICOM), which disclosed that a small team of American military personnel was deployed to Nigeria at the request of the Nigerian government. AFRICOM Commander, General Dagvin Anderson, described the mission as advisory, noting that it focuses on providing specialised intelligence support for counter-terrorism efforts. He added that the partnership reflects mutual trust and shared security objectives between both countries.

Addressing fears over national independence, DHQ reassured Nigerians that Nigeria’s sovereignty remains intact. Defence Minister Christopher Musa also confirmed that the US personnel are not combat troops and have no operational control. Legal and security experts have similarly stated that such cooperation is lawful if approved by the government and driven by national interest. The military reiterated its commitment to protecting Nigeria’s territorial integrity while working with credible international partners.