Nigerian Military Refutes Claims of U.S. Arms Drops

The Nigerian military has officially denied reports alleging that U.S. military aircraft dropped arms in Borno and Kaduna states. These claims circulated widely on social media and referenced a report by The New York Times, which stated that three U.S. military planes landed in Nigeria on Thursday and Friday to offload ammunition and equipment in Maiduguri, Borno State.

A senior source from the Nigerian Army, speaking to Vanguard, confirmed that no U.S. aircraft landed in Kaduna or elsewhere during that week, describing the reports as fake and baseless. President Muhammadu Buhari's administration clarified that a Max Air flight, which landed last Friday, was transporting Nigerian troops, not U.S. military personnel.

The military acknowledged ongoing bilateral security cooperation with countries including the United States, United Kingdom, and France, which includes intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance support. This clarification comes amid heightened security collaboration between Nigeria and the U.S. following American operations against ISIS camps in Sokoto State.