The United States has deployed approximately 200 military personnel to Nigeria to support the country’s fight against Islamist insurgents, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday.
An American military official told the publication that the move follows recent remarks by US President Donald Trump, who accused Nigeria of failing to adequately protect Christian communities from terrorist attacks.
The deployment is aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s counterterrorism capabilities through specialised training and operational support.The newly arrived troops are expected to complement a small contingent of US military advisers already stationed in Nigeria.
These advisers assist Nigerian forces with intelligence gathering and target identification for military operations, according to US and Nigerian officials cited in the report.Confirming enhanced cooperation between the two nations, Commander of the United States Africa Command (USAFRICOM), Gen Dagvin R. Anderson, disclosed during a virtual briefing last Tuesday that recent high-level engagements had paved the way for deeper collaboration.
“I was able to meet President Tinubu. We were able to share some thoughts and agree that we needed to work together on a way forward in the region,” Anderson said.“
That has led to increased collaboration between our nations, including a small US team that brings unique capabilities from the United States to augment what Nigeria has been doing for several years.”
Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters, however, clarified that the security partnership with the United States is strictly focused on capacity building and does not involve direct combat operations.According to military authorities, the cooperation framework includes professional military education, intelligence sharing, logistics support, and strategic dialogue designed to tackle shared security threats, particularly terrorism.
The clarification followed widespread media reports and public speculation regarding the presence of US troops in the country.In a statement, Director of Defence Information, Maj Gen Samaila Uba, reaffirmed Nigeria’s longstanding security ties with Washington, stressing that all engagements are conducted within established bilateral agreements and with full respect for Nigeria’s sovereignty.“
The Defence Headquarters has noted recent media reports and public speculation suggesting the presence or deployment of United States troops in Nigeria,” the statement read.“The Armed Forces of Nigeria wishes to state that Nigeria maintains a long-standing and structured security partnership with the United States.”
The development comes as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Sunday received a high-level US delegation led by Gen Anderson at the State House in Abuja.
The delegation also included the Chargé d’Affaires of the US Embassy in Nigeria, Keith Heffern.Discussions at the meeting centred on deepening defence cooperation and advancing regional security efforts.
