U.S. Troops Withdraw from Nigeria, Support Continues

U.S. troops have officially withdrawn from Nigeria, as confirmed by General Dagvin R. M.

Anderson during a digital press briefing following the African Chief of Defence Conference in 2026. The withdrawal marks the end of a significant American personnel deployment aimed at counterterrorism operations in the Lake Chad Basin.

Despite the troop withdrawal, General Anderson emphasized that the United States will continue to support Nigeria through intelligence sharing and cooperation as requested by the Nigerian government. He noted that the U.S. remains committed to assisting Nigeria in combating terrorism and disrupting the operations of ISIS.

The U.S. Air Force Command described Nigeria as a capable partner with a strong military and intelligence assets.

The U.S. had deployed 200 military personnel to Nigeria in February 2026 to support intelligence surveillance and counterterror operations, following increased security cooperation between Washington and Abuja. Notable successes included U.S. airstrikes against terrorist enclaves in Sokoto State and operations that eliminated key ISIS figures in Borno State.