US Withdraws Troops from Nigeria After Counterterrorism Mission

• The United States has withdrawn most of its troops from Nigeria after completing a counterterrorism mission in the Lake Chad Basin.

The United States has withdrawn most of its military personnel deployed to Nigeria after completing a joint counterterrorism mission in the Lake Chad Basin, while reaffirming its commitment to continued intelligence sharing with Nigerian security agencies.

Commander of US Air Forces in Africa, General Dagvin R.M. Anderson, announced the development during a virtual briefing, explaining that although the operation requiring American troops had ended, security cooperation between both countries remains active.

According to Anderson, the partnership has played a significant role in disrupting ISIS operations in the region, including a joint mission that led to the elimination of Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki, the terrorist group’s second-in-command responsible for global operations, media, and recruitment.

He stressed that the US would continue providing intelligence support at Nigeria’s request, describing the country’s military as capable and highlighting intelligence collaboration as a more effective long-term strategy than prolonged foreign troop deployments.

The US commander also called for stronger intelligence cooperation among African nations to combat terrorism, drug trafficking, and other transnational crimes, citing the recent interception of a record 31-ton cocaine shipment as an example of what coordinated intelligence can achieve.

About 200 US military personnel were deployed to Nigeria in February 2026 to support intelligence, surveillance, and counterterrorism operations in the Lake Chad Basin as both countries intensified efforts against ISIS and other extremist groups.