WASHINGTON: The United States has deployed about 200 troops to Nigeria to support the country’s military in combating Islamist militants, according to a report published on Tuesday by The Wall Street Journal.
An American military official reportedly said the deployment comes weeks after US President Donald Trump criticised Nigeria over what he described as inadequate protection of Christians against terrorist attacks.
The troops are expected to strengthen Nigeria’s counterterrorism capacity through specialised training and operational support.
The report noted that the newly deployed personnel would complement existing US military advisers already working with Nigerian forces, particularly in intelligence sharing and identifying targets for counterterrorism operations.
Confirming deeper collaboration between both countries, the Commander of the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), Gen. Dagvin R. Anderson, disclosed during a virtual briefing that recent high-level engagements between Washington and Abuja had resulted in expanded security cooperation.
He explained that discussions with President Bola Tinubu focused on strengthening joint efforts to tackle regional security threats.
According to him, the collaboration includes a small US team providing specialised capabilities to augment Nigeria’s ongoing counterterrorism initiatives.
Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters clarified that the security partnership with the United States is primarily centred on capacity building rather than direct combat operations.
In a statement, Director of Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Samaila Uba, emphasised that all engagements respect Nigeria’s sovereignty and operate within established bilateral agreements.
The military said cooperation with the United States covers professional military education, intelligence sharing, logistics support, and strategic dialogue aimed at addressing terrorism and other shared security challenges.
The clarification followed public speculation about the nature of the US troop presence in Nigeria.
The development also comes shortly after President Tinubu hosted a US delegation led by the AFRICOM commander at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The delegation included Gen. Anderson and the Chargé d’Affaires of the US Embassy in Nigeria, Keith Heffern.
Discussions during the meeting reportedly centred on enhancing defence cooperation and strengthening regional security initiatives.
The deployment highlights growing international collaboration in tackling Nigeria’s persistent security challenges, particularly insurgency and terrorism in parts of the country.
Analysts say enhanced training, intelligence sharing, and logistical support could improve Nigeria’s counterterrorism effectiveness, though questions remain about long-term strategy and sustainability.
