The United States is deploying troops to Nigeria to train the country’s military in countering extremist groups, Nigerian officials confirmed Wednesday, as northern regions battle with a deepening security crisis.
Maj. Gen. Samaila Uba, spokesman for Nigeria’s Defense Headquarters, emphasized that American personnel will not participate in combat and that Nigerian forces will retain full command authority.
“At the invitation of the Government of Nigeria and in continuation of our longstanding security cooperation and military-to-military partnership with the United States, Nigeria will host a contingent of United States technical and training personnel,” Uba said.
READ ALSO: Nigeria’s Tinubu set for historic UK state visit after nearly 40-year gap
A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly, said around 200 American troops are expected to arrive. The deployment was first reported by The Wall Street Journal.
The United States has increasingly focused on Nigeria after U.S. President Donald Trump accused the country of failing to protect Christians from what he described as genocide. Nigerian authorities dismissed the claim, and analysts warn that it oversimplifies a complex conflict in which attacks target civilians regardless of religion.
U.S. military involvement in Nigeria is not new. In December, American forces conducted airstrikes against militants linked to the Islamic State in northwestern Nigeria. Last month, the head of U.S. Africa Command confirmed that a small team of U.S. officers was already in the country, providing intelligence support.
Nigeria’s security challenges are extensive. Dozens of armed groups are vying for control, including Boko Haram, its splinter faction Islamic State West Africa Province, and the IS-affiliated Lakurawa. Bandit groups, known for kidnappings and illegal mining, further complicate the landscape.
The crisis has recently spread, drawing in militants from the Sahel region such as Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin, which launched its first attack on Nigerian soil last year. The United Nations estimates that several thousand people have died in the country’s ongoing conflicts, with analysts criticizing the government for insufficient protection of civilians.
While Christians have been among those affected, residents and experts, according to an AP report, indicated that most victims are Muslims living in the predominantly Muslim north, where the majority of attacks occur.
