US Deploys Troops to Nigeria for Counterterrorism Amid Airstrikes

The United States has deployed a limited number of troops to Nigeria for counterterrorism cooperation, marking the first public acknowledgment of US ground forces in the country. The deployment follows airstrikes carried out in December 2025 on suspected Islamic State camps in northeast Nigeria.

Dagvin Anderson, head of the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), confirmed the deployment, emphasizing enhanced counterterror cooperation between Washington and Abuja. Nigerian Defense Minister Christoph Musa acknowledged the presence of US military personnel without providing further details.

Nigeria continues to face security challenges from groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP, with attacks concentrated in the northeast and spreading to other regions. The US maintains aerial surveillance operations in Nigeria, including reconnaissance flights over neighboring Ghana.