The United States is planning to deploy about 200 additional troops to Nigeria to deepen security cooperation and support the country’s fight against insurgency and banditry, according to a report by The New York Times.
The proposed deployment would add to the small team of American military personnel already in Nigeria, providing specialised support to local forces.
Officials say the troops are expected to focus on training, intelligence sharing and technical assistance, and will not participate in combat operations.
Recent reports indicate the personnel will be stationed at various locations across the country to help strengthen the capacity of Nigerian troops battling militant groups.
Last week, the Commander of the United States Africa Command, Gen Dagvin R. Anderson, confirmed that a US team of experts had been dispatched to Nigeria following high-level discussions between both countries.
He had said, “I was able to meet President Tinubu. We shared some thoughts and agreed that we needed to work together on a way forward in the region. That has led to increased collaboration between our nations, including a small US team that brings unique capabilities from the United States to augment what Nigeria has been doing for several years.”
In its latest report, The New York Times said the yet-to-be-dispatched troops would assist in training Nigerians to fight militants, but would not be involved in combat.
“The U.S. troops will be assigned to locations across Nigeria to provide training and technical expertise,” a U.S. official was quoted as saying.
“The troops will augment a small team of U.S. forces who have been in the West African nation for weeks, assisting local soldiers with identifying potential terrorist targets for strikes using American and Nigerian intelligence.”
The development comes amid growing security ties between Abuja and Washington.
President Bola Tinubu recently received a high-level delegation from the US Africa Command at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, alongside Nigeria’s service chiefs and intelligence heads, in talks aimed at strengthening joint efforts against terrorism.
The renewed partnership follows earlier military coordination between the two countries, including intelligence sharing and air operations targeting extremist groups in northern Nigeria.
Washington’s interest in Nigeria has intensified in recent months, particularly after the country was redesignated a “Country of Particular Concern” by the United States over allegations of religious persecution—claims the Nigerian government has consistently denied.
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