U.S. plans deployment of 200 additional troops to Nigeria

The United States is reportedly finalising plans to deploy 200 additional troops to Nigeria, in a move aimed at strengthening ongoing security collaboration between both countries.

According to The New York Times, the proposed deployment would reinforce a small contingent of American special forces already operating in Nigeria, assisting local troops in intelligence gathering and counter-terrorism operations.

Last week, the Commander of the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), General Dagvin R. Anderson, confirmed that a team of U.S. experts had been dispatched to Nigeria as part of renewed military cooperation.

“I was able to meet President Tinubu. We were able to share some thoughts and agree that we needed to work together on a way forward in the region,” Anderson said.

“That has led to increased collaboration between our nations, including a small U.S. team that brings unique capabilities from the United States to augment what Nigeria has been doing for several years,” he added.

The additional troops are expected to support U.S. personnel who have been on ground for weeks, assisting Nigerian forces in identifying potential terrorist targets using a combination of American surveillance assets and Nigerian intelligence.

Washington’s renewed focus on Nigeria reportedly intensified after President Donald Trump redesignated the country as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) over alleged religious freedom violations.

President Trump had previously issued strong warnings over claims of religious persecution in Nigeria and reportedly directed the Pentagon to prepare contingency options. The Nigerian government has firmly denied allegations of systemic religious persecution.

In response to rising diplomatic tensions, President Bola Tinubu dispatched a high-level delegation to Washington led by the National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, to engage U.S. officials.

An American congressional delegation led by Congressman Riley Moore — tasked with probing alleged genocide against Christians — also visited Nigeria in December, where members reportedly met privately with victims of insecurity.

Security collaboration between the two nations reached a notable point during the Christmas Day airstrikes on suspected ISIS targets in Sokoto State. Reports indicate that U.S. surveillance aircraft operating from Ghana provided intelligence support by relaying reconnaissance data to joint American and Nigerian military analysts.

General Anderson recently met with senior Nigerian officials, while his deputy, Lt. Gen. John Brennan, visited Abuja to formalise deeper military cooperation.

President Tinubu also hosted top U.S. security officials at the Presidential Villa, Aso Rock, as both nations seek to strengthen strategic ties amid escalating security challenges across West Africa.