The US deploys troops to Nigeria following December airstrikes, marking a significant escalation in bilateral counterterrorism cooperation

The United States deploys troops to Nigeria following December 2025 airstrikes, marking the first officially acknowledged US military presence on Nigerian soil in years, as President Donald Trump’s administration deepens cooperation with the Federal Government against escalating terrorist threats.

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The deployment, confirmed on Tuesday, follows airstrikes ordered by US President Donald John Trump on Christmas Day 2025 against what the White House described as Islamic State targets operating inside Nigeria.

According to Reuters, the move comes after months of intelligence coordination, including surveillance flights conducted from neighbouring Ghana since at least late November 2025, aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s counterterrorism capacity ahead of the strikes.

The Head of United States Africa Command, General Dagvin R.M. Anderson, told reporters that the decision reflected expanding military collaboration between both countries.

General Anderson said the presence of a small US team would bring “unique capabilities” to support Nigerian security forces.

Although the size and precise mission of the US personnel were not disclosed, security sources cited by Reuters said the team is likely focused on intelligence gathering and operational support targeting extremist groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province.

Nigeria’s Defence Minister, General Christopher Musa, also confirmed the presence of American troops but declined to provide further operational details, underscoring the sensitive nature of the deployment.

The development follows mounting pressure from Washington over Nigeria’s handling of persistent terrorist violence.

President Trump has previously accused Nigerian authorities of failing to protect Christian communities in parts of the northwest, an allegation the Federal Government has firmly rejected.

Nigerian officials have repeatedly stressed that military operations are directed at all armed groups attacking civilians, regardless of religious or ethnic identity, as the country confronts one of its most complex security challenges in decades.

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The decision by Washington to place troops on the ground signals a decisive shift in US engagement in West Africa, highlighting the gravity of the security situation and the growing strategic importance of Nigeria in regional counterterrorism efforts.