U.S. to deploy additional 200 troops to Nigeria under counterterrorism cooperation

The United States is set to deploy an additional 200 troops to Nigeria as part of expanded counterterrorism cooperation, according to a senior Nigerian military source.

The deployment follows a visit to Abuja last week by the head of US Africa Command, General Dagvin Anderson, who met President Bola Tinubu, Defence Minister Christopher Musa and other senior officials. At a briefing, Anderson confirmed that a “small team” of US military personnel had already been deployed.

A senior Defence Headquarters official said the incoming personnel would work alongside Nigerian forces rather than operate independently.

“They are not coming to carry out isolated operations. They are coming to partner our troops to ensure terrorists are flushed out,” the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity as he was not authorised to speak publicly.

The cooperation is expected to focus on intelligence sharing and joint planning against armed groups operating in Nigeria’s north-east and north-west, where insurgent and criminal networks continue to stage attacks.

The planned deployment has prompted domestic debate about foreign military involvement. Concerns intensified after President Donald Trump alleged that Christians were being targeted in what he described as a “genocide” in Nigeria, a claim rejected by Nigerian authorities. Officials said insecurity affects citizens of all faiths.

Tensions appeared to ease after Trump later acknowledged that both Christians and Muslims were victims of violence and authorised air strikes on what he described as terrorist camps in Nigeria’s north-west.

Presenting the military’s proposed 2026 budget to lawmakers this week, Chief of Defence Staff Olufemi Oluyede said Nigeria was managing foreign partnerships carefully to safeguard national sovereignty. He acknowledged intelligence gaps but said cooperation with allies had improved operational response.

Separately, the Nigerian Army said troops killed 16 suspected terrorists during an offensive in the Komala axis of Konduga Local Government Area in Borno State. Under the north-east joint task force Operation Hadin Kai, soldiers also rescued 11 kidnapped victims, according to a military statement.

The latest deployment reflects deepening military ties between Washington and Abuja as both countries seek to counter persistent security threats in Nigeria and across West Africa.

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