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Nigeria and the United States have agreed to deepen military cooperation following growing concerns over terrorist threats in West Africa, leading to the deployment of a team of US troops to Nigeria.
The agreement was confirmed on Tuesday by the head of the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), General Dagvin R.M. Anderson, who said both countries concluded that existing efforts were not sufficient to address evolving security challenges in the region.
The renewed cooperation comes weeks after U.S. President Donald Trump ordered airstrikes in December on what he described as Islamic State targets in Nigeria.
Trump had also warned at the time that further American military action could follow, signalling a tougher U.S. posture toward extremist groups operating in West Africa.
Speaking at a media briefing yesterday, Anderson said discussions between Washington and Abuja resulted in an understanding that closer collaboration was necessary, culminating in the deployment of U.S. personnel to support Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts.
“That has led to increased collaboration between our nations to include a small US team that brings some unique capabilities from the United States,” Anderson told journalists.
While confirming the agreement, the AFRICOM commander declined to provide details on the size of the U.S. team, its specific role, or the duration of its presence in Nigeria.
He also did not disclose whether the troops would be involved in combat operations or play advisory and support roles.
The U.S. deployment marks the first official acknowledgement of American troops operating on Nigerian soil since the December airstrikes, underscoring a shift toward more direct cooperation between both countries in addressing security threats.
Nigeria’s Defence Minister, General Christopher Musa (retd.), also confirmed that a U.S. team was currently working in the country, reinforcing the position that the deployment was the result of mutual agreement between both governments.
Like his U.S. counterpart, Musa did not provide further details about the scope or mandate of the team.
Nigeria has faced prolonged security challenges from terrorist groups and armed extremists, particularly in the North-East and parts of the North-West.
Despite repeated assurances by Nigerian authorities that the country retains control of its security architecture, the agreement with the United States highlights a strategic partnership aimed at enhancing counterterrorism capacity.
The development is expected to generate public debate within Nigeria over the presence of foreign troops and the implications for national sovereignty, especially in light of recent U.S. airstrikes.
However, officials on both sides have emphasised cooperation rather than confrontation, suggesting that the agreement is framed as a joint effort to address shared security concerns in West Africa.
For now, both governments appear intent on keeping operational details confidential, even as the confirmation of the agreement signals a new phase in Nigeria–U.S. military relations.
In December 2025, the US Department of Defense said “multiple ISIS terrorists” were killed in the strikes conducted at the behest of the Nigerian government. President
Trump also announced the operation, declaring, “The Department of War executed numerous perfect strikes, as only the United States is capable of doing. Under my leadership, our Country will not allow Radical Islamic Terrorism to prosper.
“May God bless our Military, and MERRY CHRISTMAS to all, including the dead Terrorists, of which there will be many more if their slaughter of Christians continues,” he wrote on Truth Social.
While details of the attack were not immediately released, the US Department of War later published a short video clip showing an airstrike in Nigeria. The US Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, and the US Africa Command (AFRICOM) said the strikes in Sokoto were carried out in “coordination with Nigerian authorities.”
“The @DeptofWar is always ready, so ISIS found out tonight — on Christmas. More to come… Grateful for Nigerian government support & cooperation,” Hegseth wrote on X.
The strikes come weeks after Trump described violence against Christians in Nigeria as an “existential threat” amounting to “genocide,” a position that saw Nigeria returned to the list of “Countries of Particular Concern,” alongside threats of military action and subsequent visa restrictions.
However, Nigerian authorities have consistently rejected the religious framing of the violence, maintaining that people of different faiths are victims of terrorism and criminal attacks across the country.
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