Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has confirmed the arrival of approximately 100 United States military personnel and associated equipment at Bauchi Airfield, marking a significant development in the growing security cooperation between Abuja and Washington.
In a statement released on Monday, Defence spokesperson, Brigadier General Samaila Uba, said the deployment follows a recent bilateral security agreement between Nigeria and the United States.
According to Uba, the Federal Government formally requested US assistance focused on advanced military training, technical support, and intelligence sharing to strengthen the operational effectiveness of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
“The collaboration will provide access to specialised technical capabilities aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s ability to deter terrorist threats and enhance the protection of vulnerable communities across the country,” the statement said.
Advisory, Not Combat Role
The DHQ clarified that the US personnel are technical specialists serving strictly in advisory and training capacities, not combat troops. All activities, it emphasized, will be conducted under the authority, direction, and control of the Federal Government of Nigeria, in close coordination with the Nigerian military.
In the coming days, Nigerian troops and US trainers are expected to commence joint training exercises and intelligence-driven cooperation initiatives designed to enhance counterterrorism operations.
“These engagements are structured to improve the capacity of Nigerian troops to identify, disrupt, and neutralise extremist terrorist groups seeking to destabilise the nation,” Uba added.
He reaffirmed the military’s commitment to degrading and defeating armed groups threatening Nigeria’s sovereignty, national security, and civilian safety, while assuring Nigerians of transparency and timely updates regarding the partnership.
Diplomatic and Political Context
The deployment comes amid heightened diplomatic engagement between Nigeria and the United States under President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly criticised Nigeria’s handling of insecurity.
Trump had previously designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), citing attacks on Christian communities by extremist groups.
The Nigerian government has rejected the characterisation, maintaining that violence in the country affects citizens across religious and ethnic lines.
In a controversial move, Trump ordered airstrikes in Nigeria on Christmas Day, saying they targeted Islamic State-linked militants operating in the North-West. Both US and Nigerian authorities later described the operation as collaborative.
Following high-level talks in Abuja, the head of United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), General Dagvin Anderson, confirmed that a small US military team had been deployed to Nigeria primarily for intelligence support.
While critics argue that expanded US military involvement could undermine Nigeria’s territorial integrity, the DHQ insists the cooperation framework is anchored on capacity building, professional military education, intelligence exchange, logistics support, and strategic dialogue — all within established bilateral agreements and with full respect for Nigeria’s sovereignty.
Nigeria’s Expanding Security Challenge
Nigeria continues to grapple with a complex and evolving security crisis involving multiple armed groups. These include the homegrown Boko Haram insurgency and its breakaway faction, the Islamic State affiliate in West Africa Province (ISWAP), as well as ISIL-linked Lakurawa and heavily armed terrorist networks engaged in mass kidnappings and illegal mining.
According to United Nations data, several thousand people have been killed in recent years as violence spreads across multiple regions of the country.
The arrival of US military trainers signals what defence authorities describe as a strategic step toward enhancing Nigeria’s counterterrorism capacity amid mounting security pressures.
