As part of expanded cooperation between Washington and Abuja, the United States has dispatched troops to Nigeria for counter-terrorism operations and other related security threats.
This followed the December 25, 2025, deadly airstrikes launched by the US Military against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) hotspot In Northwest Nigeria over the incessant attacks on Christians.
United States President, Donald J. Trump who disclosed the airstrikes via his verified social media handle on Christmas Day, informed that the action was taken on his direct orders as Commander in Chief.
According to Reuters, Commander of the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) General Dagvin R.M. Anderson said on Tuesday, February 4, 2026, that Nigeria and the United States agreed on the need for closer military collaboration to address the lingering insecurity.
Anderson did not disclose the exact size and mission details of the deployed team, but described it as a small contingent with unique capabilities provided by the United States.
"That has led to increased collaboration between our nations to include a small US team that brings some unique capabilities from the United States," Anderson said.
Nigerian Defence Minister, Christopher Musa separately confirmed that a US team is operating in the country, declining to provide further specifics.
The US had conducted surveillance flights over the country from Ghana since late November, 2025.
However, the deployment of troops marked the first official acknowledgment of US forces on the ground in Nigeria since Washington conducted airstrikes in the country at the end of December.
The action targeted militant groups after months of Nigeria allowing US intelligence flights to operate over its territory — a sign of heightened security cooperation between the two countries.
US officials said the deployed team will focus heavily on intelligence gathering and support to Nigerian forces in their fight against terrorist-affiliated groups.
Nigeria has come under intense pressure by Washington to act after President Trump accused the West African nation of failing to protect Christians from Islamist militants operating in the northwest.
The Nigerian government had denied any systematic persecution of Christians, saying that it is targeting Islamist fighters and other armed groups that attack both Christian and Muslim civilians.
Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters have intensified attacks on military convoys and civilians, and the northwest remains the epicentre of the 17-year Islamist insurgency.
The US military’s Africa Command said that the strike, which was carried out in Sokoto state in coordination with Nigerian authorities, killed multiple ISIS militants.
The strike came after Trump in late October began warning that Christianity faced an existential threat in Nigeria, threatening to militarily intervene in the West African country over what he said its failure to stop violence targeting Christian communities.
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