- US troops in Nigeria to support counterterrorism training
- Islamist militants remain a major security threat
- Deployment follows US concern over Christian attacks
- Move strengthens US–Nigeria military cooperation
The United States has deployed about 200 troops to Nigeria to strengthen the country’s fight against Islamist militants, expanding military cooperation between both nations amid growing security concerns across the region.
According to a report by The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday, the newly deployed US troops in Nigeria are tasked with training and supporting the Nigerian military as it confronts persistent attacks by Islamist militant groups.
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An American military official disclosed that the deployment came just weeks after US President Donald Trump criticised Nigeria for what he described as a failure to adequately protect Christians from terrorist violence.
The report noted that the troops will provide specialised training and operational assistance aimed at improving Nigeria’s counterterrorism capacity, particularly in intelligence gathering and coordinated military responses.
The newly deployed personnel are also expected to reinforce a small group of US military advisers already operating in Nigeria, who assist local forces with intelligence used to identify targets for military operations, according to both US and Nigerian officials.
Confirming the development, the Commander of the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), General Dagvin R. Anderson, said military cooperation between both countries has increased following recent high-level engagements.
“Our partnership with Nigeria continues to evolve through deeper collaboration and shared security objectives,” Anderson said during a virtual briefing last Tuesday.
Security analysts say the move signals Washington’s renewed focus on West Africa as militant activity continues to threaten stability in the region.