US Deploys Small Team of Troops to Nigeria After Renewed Security Cooperation
The United States has confirmed the deployment of a “small team” of troops to Nigeria, marking a renewed on-ground military presence following recent joint security cooperation between both countries.
The disclosure was made by Dagvin Anderson, the General in charge of the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), during a press briefing on Tuesday.
Anderson explained that the deployment is part of ongoing collaboration between the US and Nigerian authorities aimed at strengthening security cooperation and addressing shared threats, particularly in counterterrorism operations.
This development represents the first official acknowledgment of US boots on Nigerian soil since the administration of former President Donald Trump authorised airstrikes against terrorist targets in Sokoto State on Christmas Day during his tenure.
While details of the troops’ mission, size, and duration were not disclosed, AFRICOM stressed that the presence is limited and focused on cooperation rather than combat operations.
The announcement has sparked renewed public interest in the scope of US–Nigeria security relations, especially amid ongoing efforts to combat terrorism and insecurity across parts of the country.
