US to deploy additional Soldiers to Nigeria to bolster fight against terrorist groups

US to deploy additional Soldiers to Nigeria to bolster fight against terrorist groups

The United States is set to expand its military partnership with Nigeria by sending 200 troops to assist in training and operational coordination efforts, officials from both countries confirmed Tuesday.

According to Nigerian Defense Headquarters spokesman Major General Samaila Uba, the deployment is aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s campaign against jihadist groups.

“We are getting US troops to assist in training and technical support,” Uba said.

He added that the American personnel would not participate in frontline fighting.

The Wall Street Journal first reported the planned deployment. The additional forces will join a small US team already stationed in Nigeria, which has been helping with air strike targeting.

The incoming contingent, expected in the coming weeks, will focus on providing “training and technical guidance,” including helping Nigerian forces better synchronize air and ground operations, the newspaper said.

A US Africa Command spokeswoman confirmed the report’s details to AFP.

The move comes as Washington deepens military cooperation with Africa’s most populous nation, despite recent diplomatic friction.

US President Donald Trump has described insecurity in Nigeria as “persecution” and “genocide” against Christians.

While some attacks have specifically targeted Christian communities, violence has also claimed large numbers of Muslim victims.

Trump’s senior advisor on Arab and African affairs, Massad Boulos, noted last year that Boko Haram and Islamic State “are killing more Muslims than Christians.”

Nigerian authorities have rejected accusations that Christians are being systematically persecuted, a characterization often promoted by elements of the US religious right.

Independent analysts similarly argue that the crisis reflects broader governance challenges and the state’s struggle to contain jihadist factions and heavily armed criminal gangs operating across vast rural areas.

Despite the political tensions, both governments have continued to expand security ties.

In December, US and Nigerian officials confirmed that American forces participated in a joint operation targeting militants in Sokoto state in the northwest.

Looking ahead, the US military has pledged to provide intelligence support for Nigerian air strikes and to help speed up pending arms purchases.

While the deployment of 200 troops marks a significant step up in cooperation, “US troops aren’t going to be involved in direct combat or operations,” Uba told the Journal, emphasizing that Nigeria requested the additional assistance.

Nigeria continues to face a protracted insurgency in its northeast, where jihadist groups have operated for more than a decade.

Meanwhile, criminal gangs known locally as “bandits” carry out kidnappings for ransom and raid villages in the northwest, compounding the country’s security challenges.