The United States plans to send approximately 200 troops to Nigeria in the coming weeks to train and support the Nigerian military in its fight against Islamist militants. The deployment will supplement a small existing US team already in the country providing intelligence and advisory assistance for operations, including air strikes.

A US official confirmed the move, stating the troops will offer training and technical expertise at various locations across Nigeria but will not participate in combat. This follows recent heightened cooperation, including US airstrikes on suspected Islamic State targets in northwest Nigeria on Christmas Day 2025, and talks between US Africa Command leaders and President Bola Tinubu.

Nigeria's Defence Headquarters spokesperson, Major General Samaila Uba, acknowledged the plan, saying, “We are getting US troops to assist in training and technical support.” He emphasised that Nigerian forces retain full control over security decisions.

The deployment comes amid ongoing security challenges in Nigeria, including insurgency by groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP in the northeast, banditry in the northwest, and communal violence in the Middle Belt. It also follows US criticism of Nigeria's handling of attacks on Christian communities and religious freedom concerns raised by President Trump.

No specific timeline for arrival or exact locations were detailed, but the focus remains on capacity building, intelligence sharing, and coordination rather than direct combat involvement.