The United States has deployed a small contingent of troops to Nigeria, according to General Dagvin R.M. Anderson, commander of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM).
The move comes as both countries agreed on the need for enhanced cooperation to tackle the growing terrorist threat in West Africa.
Speaking to journalists during a press briefing on Tuesday, General Anderson said the deployed team brings specialized capabilities from the U.S. to support Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts. He did not disclose specific details regarding the size or full scope of the mission.
Nigeria’s Defense Minister, Christopher Musa, confirmed the presence of the U.S. team on Nigerian soil but similarly refrained from providing additional information.
This marks the first official acknowledgment of U.S. personnel operating in Nigeria since airstrikes conducted on Christmas Day 2025, which targeted Islamic State-affiliated groups in the country’s northwest. At the time, former U.S. President Donald Trump indicated that further military operations could follow.
Reports indicate that the U.S. had been conducting surveillance flights over Nigeria from Ghana since late November 2025. A former U.S. official noted that the deployed team is heavily involved in intelligence gathering and supporting Nigerian forces in their operations against terrorist-linked groups.
The deployment comes amid growing pressure on Nigeria from Washington. President Trump had criticized the Nigerian government for allegedly failing to protect Christians from Islamist militants in the northwest. Nigerian authorities, however, maintain that both Christians and Muslims are affected by ongoing insecurity and insist that military efforts are focused on armed groups responsible for attacks, not religious communities.
The situation remains tense as Nigeria and the U.S. continue their collaboration to address terrorism and restore security in affected regions.
