US has confirmed the deployment of Troops to Nigeria to strengthen counterterrorismcooperation.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that the United States military has confirmed the deployment of a limited number of American troops to Nigeria, marking the first public acknowledgment of US forces on the ground following airstrikes carried out in December 2025.
According to a Reuters report, the disclosure was made by Dagvin Anderson, head of the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), who said the deployment followed a bilateral understanding between Washington and Abuja to enhance counterterrorism cooperation.
The confirmation comes weeks after US airstrikes targeted suspected Islamic State camps in North-east Nigeria on December 25, 2025, an operation earlier authorised by President Donald Trump. While both governments described the strikes as successful, subsequent reports indicated that unexploded ordnance believed to be remnants of the attacks were found in civilian areas across Kwara, Niger and Sokoto states.
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The December strikes followed heightened diplomatic tensions after President Trump criticised Nigeria over insecurity concerns and its redesignation as a country of particular concern. Nigerian authorities rejected claims of religiously motivated violence, stressing that insecurity affects citizens across religious lines and calling for international support focused on dismantling terrorist networks.
Speaking on the troop deployment, Anderson said the unit was providing “unique US capabilities” but declined to disclose details on troop numbers, operational locations or specific mandates. Nigeria’s Defence Minister, Christopher Musa, also confirmed the presence of US military personnel, without offering further clarification.
Nigeria continues to confront a prolonged insurgency led by Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), with attacks concentrated in the North-east and spreading into parts of the North-west and North-central regions. These challenges persist alongside banditry, communal violence and resource-related conflicts.
In addition to ground-level cooperation, the United States has maintained aerial surveillance operations over Nigeria, with reconnaissance flights reportedly conducted from neighbouring Ghana.
