The United States Africa Command has deployed about 100 troops to Nigeria as part of a non-combat training mission aimed at strengthening the country’s fight against Islamic militants and other armed groups.
The Nigerian military confirmed the deployment on Monday, stating that the move followed a formal request by the Nigerian government for training, technical support, and intelligence-sharing assistance from the United States.
According to Maj. Gen. Samaila Uba, spokesperson for Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters, the deployment reflects the longstanding security cooperation between the two nations.
“At the invitation of the Government of Nigeria and in continuation of our longstanding security cooperation and military-to-military partnership with the United States, Nigeria will host a contingent of United States technical and training personnel,” Uba said in statements to international media.
He clarified that the US troops would not participate in combat operations.
“These personnel do not serve in a combat capacity and will not assume a direct operational role,” Uba said. “Nigerian forces retain full command authority, make all operational decisions and will lead all missions on Nigerian sovereign territory.”
The mission is focused on enhancing Nigeria’s ability to counter extremist threats through specialized technical support and training. Uba explained that the collaboration would help Nigerian troops “effectively identify and neutralize extremist terrorist groups seeking to destabilize the nation.”
He added that the partnership would provide access to specialized technical capabilities aimed at improving Nigeria’s capacity to deter terrorist threats and protect vulnerable communities.
A spokesperson for US Africa Command confirmed that the deployed forces are supporting Nigerian-led counter-terrorism operations but did not disclose specific units or locations involved in the mission.
The deployment comes at a time when Nigeria continues to grapple with persistent insecurity, particularly in the northern regions where armed groups and extremist militants have carried out deadly attacks on communities.
Recent violence underscores the urgency of the mission. Over the weekend, gunmen on motorcycles reportedly attacked three villages in northern Nigeria, killing at least 46 people and abducting several others.
The US move also follows a period of diplomatic tension between the two countries. During his presidency, Donald Trump alleged that Nigeria was failing to protect Christians from what he described as genocide — a claim rejected by the Nigerian government and viewed by analysts as an oversimplification of the country’s complex security challenges.
Reports indicate that Washington may eventually deploy up to 200 troops to Nigeria as part of the broader security cooperation framework.
For now, Nigerian authorities emphasize that the presence of US personnel is strictly advisory and technical, with full operational control remaining in Nigerian hands as the country continues its campaign against terrorism and armed insurgency.
US Deploys 100 Troops to Nigeria for Training Mission