The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has confirmed the arrival of approximately 100 United States military personnel and associated equipment in Nigeria as part of an expanded bilateral security partnership aimed at strengthening the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN).
The contingent landed this week at the Bauchi Airfield in northern Nigeria following a formal request by the Federal Government of Nigeria for enhanced technical support, training and intelligence-sharing with U.S. forces, according to a statement by the DHQ.
In Abuja on Monday, Major General Samaila Uba, Director of Defence Information, said the deployment is the result of recent high-level engagements between Nigerian and U.S. military delegations. The move is designed to give Nigerian troops access to “specialized technical capabilities,” particularly in countering terrorist threats that have plagued parts of the country for years.
Gen. Uba emphasized that the American personnel will serve strictly in an advisory, training and technical support capacity and will not engage in combat operations. All training and cooperation activities will remain under the authority, direction and control of the Nigerian Government and its Armed Forces.
Nigerian soldiers are expected to participate in a series of joint training programmes and intelligence-focused engagements with their U.S. counterparts in the coming weeks. The goal, the DHQ said, is to improve the AFN’s operational readiness and enhance its ability to identify and neutralize extremist groups.
Security analysts note the arrival comes amid cooperation between the two countries, including previous U.S. military air operations and intelligence activity in the region. This support follows a period of tense diplomatic exchanges between Abuja and Washington over security responsibilities and religious violence – an issue both governments say they are jointly addressing.
In addition to the deployment in Bauchi, reports indicate U.S. military aircraft carrying personnel and equipment have also touched down in Maiduguri, in Nigeria’s troubled northeast, as part of the advisory mission. These aircraft flights are part of a planned stream of support aimed at reinforcing Nigeria’s counter-insurgency campaign.
The DHQ has assured the public it will continue to provide timely and accurate updates on the collaboration, reiterating the Nigerian military’s commitment to safeguarding the nation’s sovereignty and protecting vulnerable communities across the country.
