The United States has deployed about 200 troops to Nigeria to support the country’s military in combating Islamist militants, according to a report published Tuesday by The Wall Street Journal.
Sources say an American military official told the newspaper that the deployment is aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s counterterrorism capacity through training and operational support. The move comes weeks after US President Donald Trump accused Nigerian authorities of not doing enough to protect Christians from terrorist attacks.
The report said the newly deployed personnel will complement a small group of US military advisers already operating in Nigeria. These advisers assist local forces with intelligence gathering and target identification for military operations, according to US and Nigerian officials.
The Commander of the United States Africa Command, Gen. Dagvin R. Anderson, confirmed increased security collaboration between both countries following recent high-level engagements.
Speaking during a virtual briefing last Tuesday, Anderson said he met with President Bola Tinubu and discussed ways to deepen joint efforts in addressing regional security challenges.
