The United States has sent a small team of military personnel to Nigeria in a move aimed at strengthening security cooperation between both countries.
The deployment was disclosed by the commander of the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), General Dagvin R.M. Anderson, who said the decision followed recent engagements with Nigerian authorities to support the country’s ongoing fight against terrorism and other security threats.
According to the general, the team will provide specialised support and complement the efforts already being carried out by Nigerian security forces.
“That has led to increased collaboration between our nations to include a small U.S. team that brings some unique capabilities from the United States in order to augment what Nigeria has been doing for several years,” he said.
Although the exact number of troops and the timeline of their arrival were not disclosed, officials indicated that the personnel would focus on technical and operational assistance rather than direct combat duties.
The development comes as Nigeria continues to battle insurgent groups, including Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province, particularly in the North-East.
Both countries have maintained a long-standing defence partnership, with the United States supporting Nigeria through training, intelligence sharing and other forms of military cooperation.
Authorities say further details about the deployment are expected as the collaboration progresses.
