The Pentagon plans to deploy approximately 200 U.S. troops to Nigeria in the coming weeks to support Nigeria’s military operations against Islamist militant groups. The troops will focus on training and advisory roles, providing technical expertise and intelligence support, but will not engage in combat operations.
The deployment builds on a small team of U.S. personnel already in Nigeria, which has been working with local forces to identify potential terrorist targets using a combination of American and Nigerian intelligence. Surveillance flights over Nigerian territory have been conducted from Ghana since late last year, officials noted, as part of broader efforts to support counterterrorism operations.
The move follows a series of U.S. airstrikes on Christmas Day targeting Islamic State-affiliated militants in northwest Nigeria. The strikes, described by military officials as “powerful and deadly,” were aimed at positions in predominantly Muslim areas and resulted in the arrest of several suspected fighters. President Donald Trump indicated that further U.S. military action in Nigeria remains a possibility, a statement that has intensified scrutiny over Abuja’s handling of ongoing insurgencies.
Nigeria has faced pressure from Washington to address attacks by groups including Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), which have intensified assaults on villages, military convoys, and religious sites. Nigerian authorities maintain that their operations target all armed groups threatening civilians, regardless of religion, and dismiss allegations of coordinated attacks specifically against Christians.
The planned troop deployment coincides with growing security cooperation between the United States and Nigeria. Gen. Dagvin R.M. Anderson, Commander of U.S. Africa Command, confirmed that earlier engagements led to increased collaboration, including the provision of military supplies and advisory support. Washington has also requested permission to establish a drone refueling station in Nigeria to enhance surveillance operations across the region, which could mark a further expansion of the U.S. presence.
