The United States is preparing to deploy about 200 troops to Nigeria to support military training and counterterrorism operations against Islamist militant groups, a US official confirmed Tuesday. The deployment follows recent US airstrikes targeting Islamic State-linked fighters in the region, authorized by President Donald Trump during the Christmas period. Last week, the US military acknowledged that a small team was already operating in Nigeria but did not specify numbers. The latest move marks the first confirmation of a broader on the ground presence since the air raids.
The additional personnel will reinforce US troops already advising Nigerian forces in intelligence sharing, operational planning, and counterinsurgency training. US Africa Command has not publicly detailed the mission’s scope. Nigeria has battled Boko Haram and its offshoot, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), for 17 years, with renewed attacks on military convoys and civilians in the northeast and northwest. The conflict has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions.
Washington has also urged Abuja to strengthen protections for vulnerable communities, though Nigerian officials maintain their operations target armed groups regardless of religion. Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation with over 230 million people, remains deeply affected by the protracted insurgency.
