The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has confirmed the arrival of 100 US military personnel and equipment in Nigeria, landing at Bauchi airfield. The move follows a recent security agreement between Nigeria and the United States.
Defence spokesman, Samaila Uba, said in a statement on Monday that the deployment is part of Nigeria’s formal request for US support in military training, technical expertise, and intelligence sharing with the Nigerian Armed Forces.
“The collaboration will provide access to specialised technical capabilities aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s ability to deter terrorist threats and enhance the protection of vulnerable communities across the country,” the statement read.
Uba clarified that the US personnel are technical specialists serving strictly in an advisory and training capacity. They are not combat forces, and all activities will operate under the authority and direction of the Federal Government in coordination with Nigerian military units.
Joint training exercises and intelligence-focused cooperation initiatives will begin in the coming days, designed to enhance Nigerian troops’ capacity to identify and neutralize extremist groups threatening national security.
“The military remains fully committed to degrading and defeating terrorist groups that threaten the country’s sovereignty, security, and the safety of its citizens,” Uba added, assuring Nigerians of transparency and timely updates on the partnership.
The deployment comes after US President Donald Trump declared Nigeria a country of particular concern (CPC) and criticised the government for failing to protect Christians from deadly attacks by Islamist militants. Trump authorised airstrikes on Islamic State-linked targets in the northwest on Christmas Day, which Nigerian authorities confirmed were collaborative operations.
General Dagvin Anderson, head of US Africa Command, confirmed that a small US team is in Nigeria to provide intelligence support following talks in Abuja.
Critics have questioned the move, citing concerns over Nigeria’s territorial integrity. However, DHQ emphasised that the collaboration focuses on capacity building, professional military education, intelligence sharing, logistics support, and strategic dialogue — all respecting Nigeria’s sovereignty.
Nigeria continues to face threats from Boko Haram, the ISIL-affiliated West Africa Province (ISWAP), the ISIL-linked Lakurawa, and other bandit groups involved in kidnapping and illegal mining, with several thousand deaths reported by the United Nations.
