The United States has deployed a small team of troops to Nigeria, the first official US military presence on the ground since airstrikes targeted terrorists in northern Nigeria on Christmas Day 2025.
The deployment of Nigeria follows airstrikes ordered by US President Donald Trump in December 2025 on what he described as “Islamic State targets” in Nigeria and indicated that further US military action in Nigeria could follow.
Reuters reports that the US had been conducting surveillance flights over Nigeria from neighbouring Ghana since at least late November 2025, providing intelligence support ahead of the December strikes.
Local media reports quoted a report by Reuters on Tuesday as saying that the deployment follows an agreement between the Nigerian Government and Washington to deepen cooperation against growing terrorist threats in West Africa
The reports added that the Head of the U.S. Africa Command, General Dagvin R.M. Anderson, told a news conference on Tuesday that it has led to “increased collaboration between our nations to include a small US team that brings some unique capabilities from the United States”.
Although he did not disclose the size or specific role of the team, but he said that it would support Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts.
Nigeria’s Defence Minister, Christopher Musa, also confirmed the team’s presence, but declined to give further details.
The reports also stated that the Americans are likely involved in intelligence gathering and assisting Nigerian forces in targeting groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province.
According to the reports, Nigeria has faced intense pressure from the US over its handling of terrorist attacks, particularly after U.S. President Donald Trump accused the Nigerian Government of failing to protect Christians in the northwest, which the Nigerian Government has rejected.
GIK/APA