The United States government is set to send about 200 troops to Nigeria to provide training and support to the country’s armed forces as they intensify operations against Islamist militant groups.
The plan was disclosed on Tuesday by a U.S. official, who told the Wall Street Journal that the deployment is aimed at enhancing Nigeria’s military capacity through structured training and advisory assistance.
The development comes weeks after President Donald Trump authorised airstrikes against what he described as Islamic State positions in Nigeria.
According to the details provided, the incoming troops will reinforce a small contingent of American military personnel already operating in the country. Just last week, the U.S. military acknowledged that a limited team had been deployed to Nigeria, though it did not specify the number of personnel involved.
That announcement marked the first official confirmation of American boots on the ground since air operations were conducted on Christmas Day.
President Trump has indicated that additional military measures could be considered if the security situation demands it. Reports further suggest that U.S. forces have been carrying out surveillance flights over Nigeria from bases in Ghana since at least late November to track evolving threats.
The official noted that the 200 troops will collaborate closely with Nigerian security forces, focusing on strengthening their operational effectiveness and response capabilities against militant attacks.
The U.S. Africa Command has not issued further clarification regarding the timeline or scope of the planned deployment.
In recent months, Nigeria has faced criticism from Washington over its approach to security challenges. President Trump previously accused the Nigerian government of failing to adequately protect Christians from attacks by Islamist militants in the northwest.
Nigerian authorities have firmly denied these allegations, maintaining that there is no systematic persecution of Christians. They insist that military operations are directed at all armed groups regardless of whether their victims are Christians or Muslims.
Militant organisations such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have escalated attacks on both military personnel and civilians, contributing to persistent instability in parts of the northwest and sustaining an insurgency that has spanned roughly 17 years.
Nigeria, home to more than 230 million people, is nearly evenly divided between Christians, predominantly in the south, and Muslims, largely concentrated in the north. The prolonged conflict has impacted communities across both religious and regional lines.
What you should know
The United States plans to deploy about 200 troops to Nigeria to train and support its armed forces in the fight against Islamist militant groups.
The move follows recent U.S. airstrikes and ongoing surveillance operations. While Washington has criticised Nigeria’s handling of security, particularly regarding attacks on Christians, the Nigerian government denies claims of religious persecution and says its operations target all armed groups.
The deployment underscores growing U.S. involvement in Nigeria’s long-running insurgency battle against Boko Haram and ISWAP.
