US deploys 200 troops to Nigeria to bolster military against insurgents

The United States is set to deploy 200 troops to Nigeria to train and support the country’s military in its fight against insurgent groups across the northern region.

The deployment is part of an expanded security partnership between the two nations amid ongoing concerns over terrorism.

According to Reuters, the new troops will supplement a small contingent of US military personnel already operating in Nigeria.

The move comes after US President Donald Trump redesignated Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” over allegations of Christian genocide, intensifying bilateral security cooperation.

Last week, Dagvin Anderson, commander of the US Africa Command (AFRICOM), visited Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, where he held discussions with President Bola Tinubu, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, Minister of Defence Christopher Musa, Chief of Defence Staff Olufemi Oluyede, Chief of Army Staff Waidi Shaibu, and other senior security officials.

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During the visit, both sides emphasized shared security priorities, particularly countering terrorist organizations that threaten Nigeria, the West African region, and global security.

Anderson confirmed that US forces had already been deployed in Nigeria under the expanded agreement, though he did not disclose the exact numbers. He noted that the incoming troops will focus primarily on intelligence gathering and providing operational support to Nigerian forces.

The announcement follows a recent US military operation on Christmas Day, when precision missile strikes targeted two terrorist enclaves in Bauni Forest, Tangaza Local Government Area, Sokoto State.

Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the strikes resulted from coordinated intelligence sharing and strategic planning between the two countries and were conducted in accordance with “established international practice and bilateral understanding.”

The deployment underscores deepening US-Nigeria security cooperation as both nations work to contain insurgency and safeguard stability in the region.