The United States is set to send 200 troops to Nigeria to help train the country’s military as it fights insurgents across its northern regions.
A US official told Reuters that the new deployment will join a small number of American military personnel already stationed in Nigeria.
The move comes after closer security cooperation between both countries, following US President Donald Trump’s decision to redesignate Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” over claims of genocide against Christians.
Last week, Dagvin Anderson, commander of US Africa Command (AFRICOM), visited Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
During his visit, Anderson met with President Bola Tinubu, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, Defence Minister Christopher Musa, Chief of Defence Staff Olufemi Oluyede, Chief of Army Staff Waidi Shaibu, and other top security officials.
The discussions focused on shared security priorities, particularly efforts to counter terrorist groups that threaten Nigeria, the wider West African region, and global security.
Anderson confirmed that some US forces are already in Nigeria as part of an expanded bilateral agreement to fight terrorism, but he did not reveal the exact number of troops.
He added that the new soldiers will mainly concentrate on intelligence gathering and supporting Nigerian forces.
On Christmas Day, the US carried out missile strikes on two terrorist camps in Bauni Forest, Tangaza LGA, Sokoto State.
Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the “precision hits” were based on intelligence sharing and strategic coordination between the two countries, in line with “established international practice and bilateral understanding.”
