The United States has confirmed plans to deploy an additional 200 troops to Nigeria in the coming weeks to provide training, technical support, and operational guidance to Nigerian armed forces combating insurgency and terrorism.
The deployment, jointly announced by Nigerian and US officials on Tuesday, will expand existing military cooperation and focus on improving coordination between air and ground operations, including precision targeting and air strike support.
According to Major General Samaila Uba, spokesperson for Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters, the US personnel will be limited strictly to “advisory and support” functions.
“US troops aren’t going to be involved in direct combat or operations,” Uba told The Wall Street Journal, emphasizing that their role will be confined to training and technical guidance.
The reinforcements will supplement a smaller existing US team already in Nigeria assisting with air strike targeting. Nigerian authorities requested the additional support to enhance the effectiveness of ongoing counterterrorism operations against groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), which have caused thousands of deaths and displaced millions over more than a decade, particularly in the North-East.
The move reflects deepening security ties between Washington and Abuja amid persistent extremist threats in West Africa. It follows earlier agreements to increase collaboration, as confirmed by General Dagvin R.M. Anderson, head of the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM).
Anderson previously stated that both nations concluded existing efforts were insufficient to counter evolving regional challenges, leading to the initial deployment of a small US team with “unique capabilities.”
The expanded presence comes against a backdrop of heightened US diplomatic attention to insecurity in Nigeria. Former US President Donald Trump had described violence in parts of the country as “persecution” and “genocide” against Christians and ordered airstrikes in December on alleged Islamic State targets in Nigeria, warning of potential further action.
The Nigerian government has consistently rejected claims of targeted religious persecution, framing the crisis as a complex mix of terrorism, banditry, and communal conflicts rather than a singular campaign against any faith group.
Nigerian officials stress that the US deployment is advisory only and will not place American forces in combat roles on Nigerian soil. The focus remains on building Nigeria’s own capacity in intelligence, coordination, and precision operations to more effectively address the long-running insurgency.
The announcement underscores ongoing efforts by Nigeria to strengthen its military capabilities through international partnerships while maintaining sovereignty over direct combat operations.
