BREAKING: US Sends 200 Troops to Nigeria to Boost Fight Against Islamist Militants

• The United States has deployed about 200 troops to Nigeria to train local forces and strengthen counterterrorism efforts, officials say.

The United States has deployed approximately 200 troops to Nigeria to assist in training the country’s military as part of efforts to combat Islamist militants, according to a report published on Tuesday.

An American military official said the deployment comes weeks after US President Donald Trump accused Nigeria of failing to adequately protect Christians from terrorist attacks. The report noted that the newly deployed troops are expected to enhance Nigeria’s counterterrorism capacity through specialised training and operational support.

According to US and Nigerian officials, the personnel will supplement a small number of American military advisers already in the country. These advisers have been providing intelligence support to Nigerian forces, particularly in identifying targets for military operations.

Speaking during a virtual briefing last week, the Commander of the United States Africa Command (USAFRICOM), General Dagvin R. Anderson, confirmed increased collaboration between Nigeria and the United States following recent high-level engagements.

“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 also clarified that the security partnership with the United States is focused on capacity building rather than combat operations. According to the military, areas of cooperation include professional military education, intelligence sharing, logistics support, and strategic dialogue aimed at addressing shared security challenges, particularly terrorism.

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In a statement, the Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, said all engagements with the United States are conducted with full respect for Nigeria’s sovereignty and within established bilateral frameworks.

“The Armed Forces of Nigeria wishes to state that Nigeria maintains a long-standing and structured security partnership with the United States,” the statement said, adding that recent reports suggesting combat deployment should be viewed within the context of existing cooperation.

Meanwhile, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu recently received a high-level US delegation led by the USAFRICOM Commander at the State House in Abuja. The delegation also included the Chargé d’Affaires of the US Embassy in Nigeria, Keith Heffern. Discussions during the meeting focused on strengthening defence cooperation and enhancing regional security efforts.