The United States has deployed a small team of troops to Nigeria following airstrikes ordered by US President Donald Trump in December 2025, marking Washington’s first official military presence on Nigerian soil since the strikes, as both countries deepen cooperation against terrorism.
The deployment comes after airstrikes carried out on Christmas Day 2025, which President Trump said targeted Islamic State positions in Nigeria.
Trump had earlier indicated that further US military action in the country could follow.
Reuters reports that the United States had been conducting surveillance flights over Nigeria from neighbouring Ghana since at least late November 2025, providing intelligence support ahead of the December airstrikes.
According to a Reuters report on Tuesday, the troop deployment followed an agreement between the Federal Government of Nigeria and Washington to strengthen cooperation against rising terrorist threats in West Africa.
The Head of the US Africa Command, General Dagvin R.M. Anderson, said during a press briefing on Tuesday, “That has led to increased collaboration between our nations to include a small US team that brings some unique capabilities from the United States.”
He did not disclose the size or specific role of the team but said it would support Nigeria’s counterterrorism operations.
Reuters also reports that Nigeria’s Defence Minister, Christopher Musa, confirmed the presence of the US team but declined to provide further details.
Security sources cited by Reuters said the American personnel are likely involved in intelligence gathering and in assisting Nigerian forces to target groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province.
Nigeria has faced sustained pressure from Washington over its handling of terrorist attacks, particularly after President Trump accused the government of failing to protect Christians in the northwest, a claim the Federal Government has rejected.
The Federal Government has maintained that its military operations are directed at all armed groups attacking civilians, regardless of religion.
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