Washington D.C.- The United States is sending 200 troops to Nigeria to help train and support the country’s armed forces in their fight against jihadist and armed criminal groups, Nigerian and US officials confirmed Tuesday.
Major General Samaila Uba, spokesman for Nigeria’s Defense Headquarters, told AFP: “We are getting US troops to assist in training and technical support.”
The Wall Street Journal first reported the deployment, noting that the new personnel will supplement a small US team already in Nigeria assisting with air strike targeting. A US Africa Command spokeswoman confirmed the report.
Training, Not Combat
The additional troops are expected to arrive in the coming weeks and will focus on “training and technical guidance,” including helping Nigerian forces coordinate operations that combine air strikes and ground troop movements.
Despite the increased presence, Nigerian officials stressed that US troops will not participate directly in combat.
“US troops aren’t going to be involved in direct combat or operations,” Uba told the Journal, adding that Nigeria had requested the additional support.
This move marks a scaling up of US-Nigeria military collaboration, which has included joint air strikes, intelligence sharing, and support for arms procurement. In December, US and Nigerian forces conducted targeted operations against militants in Sokoto state.
A Complex Security Landscape
Nigeria is grappling with multiple layers of insecurity:
- Northeast insurgency: Boko Haram and Islamic State affiliates continue attacks on civilians and security forces.
- Northwest banditry: Armed gangs carry out kidnappings, loot villages, and disrupt local economies.
- Central communal violence: Clashes between mostly Christian farmers and Muslim Fulani herders over land and resources escalate regularly.
While US officials have occasionally framed the violence in religious terms, independent analysts note that the root causes are broader — including state weaknesses, resource disputes, and organized criminal activity.
“There are instances where Christians are targeted, but Muslims are also killed en masse,” said Massad Boulos, senior advisor on Arab and African affairs to President Trump, highlighting the indiscriminate nature of the violence.
The deployment signals a closer partnership between Nigeria and the United States in addressing regional instability while ensuring that US troops remain in advisory and support roles rather than frontline combat.
