The United States has deployed a small team of troops to Nigeria, marking its first official military presence in the country since airstrikes targeted suspected terrorist positions in December 2025.
The deployment follows air operations ordered by former President Donald Trump on Christmas Day 2025, aimed at what he described as Islamic State-linked targets.
Trump had earlier warned that further US military actions in Nigeria could follow if security conditions worsened.
Surveillance and Intelligence Support
According to a report by Reuters, the US military had been conducting surveillance flights over Nigeria from neighbouring Ghana since late November 2025.
These operations reportedly provided intelligence support ahead of the December airstrikes.
The report said the latest deployment is part of a bilateral agreement between Nigeria and Washington to deepen cooperation against terrorism in West Africa.
US Confirms Limited Deployment
Speaking during a press briefing on Tuesday, the Head of the US Africa Command, General Dagvin R. M. Anderson, confirmed the presence of American troops.
“That has led to increased collaboration between our nations, including a small US team that brings some unique capabilities from the United States,” Anderson said.
He, however, declined to disclose the size or specific responsibilities of the team.
Focus on Counterterrorism Operations
Security sources cited by Reuters said the US personnel are likely involved in intelligence gathering and operational support for Nigerian forces.
Their work is expected to focus on combating extremist groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
Nigeria continues to battle insurgency and banditry, particularly in the North-East and North-West regions.
Diplomatic Pressure and Government Response
The deployment comes amid pressure from Washington over Nigeria’s handling of terrorism-related violence.
Trump had previously accused the Nigerian government of failing to protect Christian communities in parts of the country — claims that Abuja strongly rejected.
In response, the Federal Government maintained that its military operations target all armed groups attacking civilians, regardless of religious or ethnic background.
Defence Minister Confirms Presence
Nigeria’s Defence Minister, Christopher Musa, also confirmed the presence of US troops but declined to provide further operational details.
Officials say the collaboration is aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s capacity to confront evolving security threats.
