The United States is planning to deploy about 200 troops to Nigeria to assist in training the country’s military in its fight against Islamist insurgents, a U.S. official said Tuesday.
The planned deployment will supplement a small team of American military personnel already operating in Nigeria.
The U.S. military last week confirmed it had sent troops to the country but did not specify the number — marking the first public acknowledgment of U.S. forces on Nigerian soil since airstrikes conducted on Christmas Day, 2025.
The new contingent is expected to focus on strengthening counterterrorism capabilities and improving coordination with Nigerian security forces.
The deployment comes weeks after President Donald Trump ordered airstrikes against what he described as Islamic State targets in Nigeria.
Since the strikes, Washington has intensified pressure on Abuja, with President Trump alleging that Nigeria was failing to protect Christian communities from Islamist militants operating in the northwest.
The U.S. administration has framed the issue as both a counterterrorism and religious freedom concern.
Nigeria Rejects Persecution Allegations
The Nigerian government has denied claims of systematic persecution of Christians.
Officials insist that security forces are targeting armed groups and extremist fighters responsible for attacks affecting both Christians and Muslims across various regions of the country.
Authorities maintain that Nigeria’s security challenges are rooted in insurgency, banditry and communal violence rather than state-backed religious persecution.
If confirmed, the deployment would represent a deeper phase of U.S.-Nigeria military cooperation, focused primarily on training and advisory roles rather than direct combat operations.
While this could improve regional counterterrorism in the region, there are those concerned about Nigeria’s sovereignty, with this foreign military involvement and long-term strategic implication for West Africa.
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