US to Deploy 200 Troops to Train Nigerian Forces

The United States plans to deploy 200 troops to Nigeria to train its armed forces in counterterrorism operations, Nigerian and US officials said, in a move aimed at strengthening military cooperation between Washington and the West African nation.

Brigadier General Samaila Ouba, spokesperson for Nigeria’s defense ministry, said American personnel would assist with training and technical support. He stressed that US troops would not participate in direct combat or frontline operations.

The announcement follows joint US-Nigerian airstrikes in December targeting militants in Sokoto state in northwestern Nigeria. The US military said it would provide intelligence support to help the Nigerian Air Force identify targets and would work to accelerate weapons procurement processes.

Although the deployment of 200 troops marks an expansion of security cooperation, Nigerian officials emphasized that the request for additional assistance came from Abuja.

Nigeria has been battling a long-running insurgency primarily concentrated in the northeast, where extremist groups have carried out attacks for more than a decade. In the northwest, criminal gangs have been responsible for kidnappings for ransom and village raids.

Central Nigeria has also seen recurring clashes between farming communities and herders. Researchers say these conflicts are largely driven by competition over land and dwindling natural resources, adding to the country’s broader security challenges.

The planned deployment reflects Washington’s continued engagement in counterterrorism efforts in West Africa amid persistent instability in the region.