Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
The United States is preparing to send approximately 200 troops to Nigeria to assist the country’s military in its ongoing fight against Islamist militant groups, U.S. and Nigerian officials have confirmed. This move follows recent U.S. military activity in Nigeria, including a small team already on the ground and airstrikes against Islamic State‑linked militants in the northwest late last year.
According to Reuters and other international outlets, the additional personnel will be deployed to provide training and technical support to the Nigerian armed forces as part of broader security cooperation against Islamist insurgents such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). The troops are expected to supplement a limited number of U.S. military personnel already assisting Nigerian forces and will also help with coordination of intelligence and joint operations, including air and ground missions.
U.S. President Donald Trump has signalled that further military cooperation could follow recent air operations, which targeted positions of Islamic State affiliates in Nigeria’s northwest after rising militant activity. Those airstrikes — carried out on Christmas Day with Nigerian cooperation — marked the first time the United States conducted precision strikes in the country against extremist camps.
The planned deployment represents a significant escalation in U.S. engagement with Nigeria on counter‑insurgency efforts, reflecting shared concerns over the threat posed by militant groups that have operated for more than a decade. The troops sent are not expected to engage in direct combat but will instead focus on training, intelligence support and operational coordination with Nigerian counterparts.
Nigeria has faced pressure from Washington amid claims by U.S. officials concerning the protection of vulnerable communities from Islamist violence — assertions Nigerian authorities have repeatedly rejected, insisting that Nigeria’s security operations target armed groups regardless of religious affiliation.
The deployment is reported to be forthcoming in the coming weeks, with details on timelines and exact locations to be confirmed by both governments.
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