US Confirms Deployment of Troops to Nigeria to Combat Terrorism
The United States has officially confirmed the deployment of a group of its military personnel to Nigeria, in a move that is part of the two countries’ security cooperation to counter terrorist threats in West Africa.
Major General Dagvin Anderson, commander of the US Africa Command, stated that the deployed team provides “unique” capabilities to Nigerian partners but refrained from disclosing the number of troops or specific mission details. This marks the first formal confirmation from Washington regarding a military presence in Nigeria.
This deployment follows a series of joint operations and attacks conducted by Nigerian and US forces since December 2025. These operations targeted extremist groups across several Nigerian states and led to the prevention of bombing plots in Sokoto, Zamfara, Niger, and Katsina states.
Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also announced that the strategic cooperation with the US includes intelligence sharing and various forms of support. According to a ministry spokesperson, this collaboration specifically focuses on combating Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
Boko Haram began its activities in Nigeria in 2009 and has since expanded its reach to neighboring countries. Despite significant setbacks inflicted on the group in recent years, Nigeria remained among the countries facing a high threat of terrorist attacks in 2024.
