The United States is set to send an additional 200 troops to Nigeria to bolster military training and intelligence assistance as the country intensifies its efforts against insurgency in the northern region.
Reliable media sources report that a US official has confirmed the new troops will augment a small group of American military personnel already stationed in Nigeria.
This deployment reflects the strengthening of the security partnership between Abuja and Washington during a crucial period for Nigeria’s counter-terrorism initiatives.
The decision follows a renewed military collaboration between the two nations after President Donald Trump reclassified Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” due to allegations of religious violence.
Despite the diplomatic sensitivities surrounding this designation, defense cooperation between the countries has continued to grow.
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Recently, General Dagvin Anderson, the commander of US Africa Command (AFRICOM), visited Abuja for high-level security discussions.
He met with President Bola Tinubu, National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, Defence Minister, Christopher Musa, Chief of Defence Staff, Olufemi Oluyede, Chief of Army Staff, Waidi Shaibu, and other senior officials.
The talks focused on shared security concerns, particularly in combating terrorist groups operating in parts of the country and the broader Sahel region.
Anderson noted that US forces already in Nigeria are functioning under an expanded bilateral security agreement aimed at fighting terrorism.
While he did not disclose the exact number of personnel currently deployed, he emphasized that their main responsibilities include intelligence gathering, surveillance coordination, and providing operational support to Nigerian forces.
