The Commander of the United States Special Operations Command Africa (SOCAFRICA), Major General Claude Tudor, has visited Maiduguri, Borno State, in a high-level military engagement aimed at strengthening counter-terrorism cooperation between the United States and Nigeria in the fight against insurgency in the North-East.
The visit took place on Thursday, June 25, 2026, at the headquarters of the Joint Task Force North East, Operation HADIN KAI, located at Maimalari Cantonment in Maiduguri. The meeting came amid renewed military offensives against Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province, both of which have continued to launch attacks across Nigeria’s North-East despite sustained military operations.
According to military authorities, the visit was designed to deepen the long-standing strategic defence partnership between both countries and improve joint efforts to combat terrorism, insurgency and other transnational security threats affecting the Lake Chad Basin and surrounding regions. The engagement also focused on reviewing operational progress and identifying areas for enhanced support.
During the visit, Major General Tudor praised the Nigerian military’s operational achievements under Operation HADIN KAI, describing the collaboration between U.S. and Nigerian forces as a model of effective military partnership. He said the integration of American special operations personnel into the theatre has strengthened trust, intelligence sharing and operational effectiveness.
Tudor said sustained cooperation between both countries remains essential to defeating insurgent groups and restoring lasting peace in the region. He reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to supporting Nigeria through enhanced collaboration in military strategy, operational planning, intelligence cooperation and other defence-related assistance.
Responding, the Theatre Commander of Operation HADIN KAI, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, thanked the United States government for its continued support to Nigeria’s counter-insurgency campaign. He said the partnership has improved both kinetic operations—direct military offensives—and non-kinetic operations, including intelligence, training and stabilization efforts.
Abubakar also stressed the need for additional advanced technological capabilities, particularly surveillance and intelligence tools, to further strengthen ongoing operations against terrorist cells operating in difficult terrain across Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa states.
The visit comes at a time when Nigerian troops have intensified operations against insurgents in the North-East. On Thursday, June 26, 2026, troops of Operation HADIN KAI rescued 53 civilians and recovered eight vehicles after dismantling a suspected ISWAP/JAS roadblock along the Buratai–Kamuya road in Biu Local Government Area of Borno State, underscoring the continued threat posed by insurgent groups.
Nigeria has battled the Boko Haram insurgency for over a decade. The conflict, which began in 2009, has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced millions of people, making it one of Africa’s longest-running security crises. While the military has recorded major gains, splinter groups such as ISWAP continue to carry out ambushes, bombings and attacks on civilian and military targets.
Security cooperation between United States and Nigeria has expanded in recent years, with support ranging from military training and intelligence sharing to equipment assistance. Analysts say such partnerships have become increasingly important as insurgent networks adapt their tactics and expand across West Africa.
The latest visit by the U.S. special operations commander is widely seen as a strong signal that Washington remains committed to supporting Nigeria’s anti-terror operations, especially as regional instability continues to pose serious threats to civilian safety and national security.
Military officials from both countries concluded the meeting by reaffirming their shared commitment to disrupting terrorist networks, improving operational coordination and promoting long-term peace and stability across northeastern Nigeria and the wider region.
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