At least three United States military aircraft landed in Nigeria between Thursday and Friday, February 12–13, 2026, delivering weapons, equipment, and personnel as part of deepened security cooperation between the two countries.
The aircraft touched down at military facilities in Borno State and other locations in the North-East, with reports indicating additional flights are expected over the weekend and in the coming weeks.
According to sources cited by The New York Times, the initial C-17 transport flights are the vanguard of a larger deployment involving US intelligence analysts, advisers, and trainers working alongside Nigerian forces on targeted counter-terrorism operations, including efforts to protect vulnerable communities.
A senior Nigerian security officer, speaking anonymously, confirmed that the deliveries included ammunition replenishment for Nigerian platforms, describing it as routine logistics following military operations.
“I know that recently US aircraft came to supply ammunition for our platforms, and that wasn’t the first time. We go for operations and use different calibres of ammunition, which need to be replaced,” the officer said.
“The US and the Nigerian government, under the coordination of the NSA, are working together to end insecurity in the country. So, we should expect more deployments of aircraft and troops.”
Counter-terrorism analysts and social media reports added further details:
– A US Air Force C-130J-30 cargo aircraft landed at Kaduna International Airport on Friday evening after departing from Accra, Ghana, fuelling speculation that Kaduna Depot may serve as a training hub for joint US–Nigeria operations.
– Another analyst reported a “massive delivery of equipment” to Maiduguri Airbase, with C-130J-30 flights following the same route as earlier C-17A transports.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Michael Onoja, had not responded to inquiries on the matter at the time of this report.
The deployment follows several recent developments in US–Nigeria security ties:
– In 2025, President Donald Trump designated Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern over alleged religious freedom violations and threatened intervention if the government failed to halt what he described as genocide against Christians.
– US forces conducted an airstrike on Islamic State-linked fighters in Sokoto State on Christmas Day 2025.
– Approximately 200 US personnel are expected to deploy, with the first batch already arriving, focusing on intelligence sharing, advisory support, and targeted counter-terrorism missions.
Both governments have described the cooperation as operating within existing bilateral frameworks and in full respect of Nigeria’s sovereignty.
The increased US military presence reflects ongoing efforts to combat insurgency, banditry, and terrorism in Nigeria’s North-East and North-West regions amid persistent security challenges. Further details on the scope and duration of the deployment are expected in the coming days.
