Following airstrikes carried out in December 2025, the United States has announced the deployment of troops to Nigeria.
President Trump said the U.S. would take further action against Islamic State targets in Nigeria after airstrikes conducted in Sokoto State last December. The move follows ongoing collaboration between the Nigerian government and Washington aimed at deepening cooperation against growing terrorist threats in West Africa.
According to reports, the U.S. has been conducting surveillance operations over Nigeria and providing intelligence to help curb persistent terrorist attacks. While details on the location and scope of the deployment have not been disclosed, Gen. Dagvin R. M. Anderson, commander of U.S. Africa Command, said the decision stems from an agreement between both countries to pursue more aggressive counterterrorism operations in the region.
“That has led to increased collaboration between our nations, including a small U.S. team that brings some unique capabilities from the United States,” Anderson told journalists during a briefing.
A former U.S. official said the deployed team is expected to play a key role in intelligence gathering and in enabling Nigerian forces to carry out targeted strikes against terrorist-affiliated groups.
Nigeria has faced increased pressure from Washington to take stronger action against militant groups, following President Trump’s accusation that the West African nation has failed to adequately protect Christians from Islamist militants operating in the northwest.
The Nigerian government has rejected claims of religious persecution, insisting that its security operations target Islamist fighters and criminal groups responsible for attacks on both Christian and Muslim civilians.
While officials from both countries emphasize cooperation and intelligence-sharing as key to defeating terrorism, the development is likely to intensify debate over foreign military involvement, sovereignty and the long-term effectiveness of international counterterrorism strategies.
