US Confirms Sending Troops to Nigeria as Both Countries Boost Anti-Terrorism Cooperation

Nigeria and the United States have agreed to work more closely on security as worries grow about terrorist threats across West Africa. As part of this new cooperation, a small team of U.S. troops will be deployed to Nigeria to support Nigeria’s fight against terrorism.

The agreement was confirmed on Tuesday by the head of the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), Dagvin R. M. Anderson. He said both countries reviewed the security situation in the region and agreed that what they had been doing before was no longer enough because the threats are changing.

This new push for stronger cooperation comes after airstrikes carried out in December, ordered by Donald Trump. Trump said the strikes targeted Islamic State locations in Nigeria. At the time, he also warned that the United States could take more military action if needed, showing a tougher approach toward extremist groups in the region.

Speaking at a media briefing, Anderson said talks between Washington, D.C. and Abuja led both sides to the same conclusion: they needed closer teamwork. That shared view, he said, is what led to the decision to send U.S. personnel to Nigeria.

Anderson described the U.S. team as small, but said they would bring “unique capabilities” to support Nigeria’s counter-terrorism efforts. However, he did not say how many troops are involved, what exact tasks they will carry out, or how long they will stay in the country. He also did not say whether the U.S. personnel would join combat operations or whether they would mainly provide advice, training, and other support.

So far, this is the clearest official confirmation that U.S. troops are on Nigerian soil since the December airstrikes. It also shows that Nigeria and the United States are entering a more direct phase of cooperation as both countries face serious security threats.

Nigeria’s Defence Minister, Christopher Musa, also confirmed that a U.S. team is already working in Nigeria. His statement supports the claim that the deployment was agreed by both governments. Like Anderson, Musa did not share details about what the team is allowed to do or the full scope of its work.

Nigeria has dealt with serious security problems for many years, especially from terrorist groups and other armed groups in the North-East and parts of the North-West. Nigerian officials often say the country is in control of its security system. Still, this partnership with the United States suggests Nigeria is looking for stronger support,especially in areas like intelligence gathering, special training, and other advanced support needed to fight threats that have not been easy to stop.

This development is expected to cause debate inside Nigeria, especially about foreign troops and what their presence could mean for Nigeria’s sovereignty. That debate may be even louder because the December airstrikes remain a sensitive issue for many Nigerians. Even so, officials in both countries are describing the move as cooperation, not confrontation. They are presenting it as a joint effort to deal with shared security problems in West Africa.

In December 2025, the United States Department of Defence said “multiple ISIS terrorists” were killed in strikes it said were carried out at the request of the Nigerian government. Trump also announced the operation on Truth Social. In his message, he claimed the “Department of War” carried out “numerous perfect strikes,” and he warned that more action could happen in the future.

After that, U.S. officials released a short video clip that showed an airstrike in Nigeria. The U.S. Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, and AFRICOM also said the strikes in Sokoto were carried out in coordination with Nigerian authorities. Hegseth later posted on X, praising the Nigerian government for its support and cooperation.

The airstrikes also came after Trump publicly described violence against Christians in Nigeria as an “existential threat.” Reports say this position helped push Nigeria back onto a U.S. list of “Countries of Particular Concern.” This was linked with warnings of possible U.S. military action and later visa restrictions.

However, Nigerian authorities have continued to reject the idea that the violence should be seen only through a religious lens. They argue that people of different faiths have been attacked, and that terrorism and criminal violence have harmed communities across the country.

For now, both governments appear ready to keep the most sensitive operational details private. Still, the confirmation of a U.S. troop deployment signals an important change in Nigeria–U.S. military relations and suggests a new phase of closer security cooperation is now underway.