Prosper Okoye
Nigeria’s military has confirmed the arrival of 100 United States personnel and equipment in the country, saying they landed at an airfield in Bauchi State as part of a new security cooperation agreement between Abuja and Washington.
In a statement, the Defence Headquarters spokesman Samaila Uba said the Nigerian government had requested US support in military training, technical assistance and intelligence sharing.
He said the American team would provide specialised expertise to help Nigerian forces counter militant threats and improve the protection of civilians.
Join our WhatsApp Channel“The personnel are technical specialists serving strictly in an advisory and training capacity,” he said, adding that they were not combat troops. All activities, he said, would be carried out under the authority and control of the Nigerian government and in coordination with the armed forces.
Joint training and intelligence-focused cooperation are due to begin in the coming days, aimed at strengthening the ability of Nigerian troops to identify and disrupt extremist groups.
The deployment comes amid heightened security cooperation between Nigeria and the administration of US President Donald Trump, who has in recent months accused Nigeria’s government of failing to protect Christians from attacks by Islamist militants. He has designated Nigeria a “country of particular concern”, a move rejected by Abuja, which says violence affects people of all faiths.
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Trump also ordered US air strikes in Nigeria on Christmas Day, saying they targeted Islamic State-linked militants in the north-west. Nigerian authorities later said the operation was carried out in collaboration with their forces.
After talks with Nigerian officials in Abuja, the head of US Africa Command, Dagvin Anderson, confirmed that a small number of US military officers were in the country to provide intelligence support.
Some critics have questioned the growing US military presence, arguing it could undermine Nigeria’s sovereignty. But the Defence Headquarters said the partnership focuses on capacity building, professional military education, intelligence sharing, logistics and strategic dialogue, all within existing bilateral frameworks.
Nigeria has been battling multiple armed groups, including Boko Haram, its offshoot the Islamic State West Africa Province, and other criminal gangs involved in kidnappings and illegal mining. Thousands of people have been killed in the violence, according to the United Nations.
Prosper Okoye is a Correspondent and Research Writer at Prime Business Africa, a Nigerian journalist with experience in development reporting, public affairs, and policy-focused storytelling across Africa
