To support capacity building for the Nigeria Armed Forces, about 100 United States military personnel with equipment have arrived the country, The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has confirmed.
According to military authorities, the US soldiers arrived the Bauchi Airfield recently under a bilateral defence cooperation arrangement between Nigeria and the United States, following a formal request by the Federal Government.
The DHQ explained that the deployment was agreed upon during a joint working group engagement between Nigerian and U.S. officials.
The engagement, it said, focused on addressing specific training needs, technical support requirements, and intelligence-sharing gaps within the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
Military authorities clarified that the visiting personnel are technical specialists serving strictly in advisory and training capacities.
They emphasised that the U.S. personnel would not be involved in combat operations.
The DHQ further assured that all training activities would be conducted under the authority, direction, and control of the Nigerian Government and in close coordination with national military leadership.
It noted that the collaboration is expected to provide Nigerian troops with access to specialised technical capabilities aimed at strengthening their ability to deter terrorist threats and enhance protection for vulnerable communities across the country.
Joint training engagements and intelligence-focused cooperation initiatives, according to the DHQ, will commence immediately to boost the capacity of troops to identify and neutralise extremist groups seeking to destabilise the nation.
The Defence Headquarters reaffirmed the commitment of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to degrading and defeating terrorist organisations threatening the country’s sovereignty and national security.
It also assured citizens of transparency in the process and pledged to provide clear, accurate, and timely information regarding the ongoing military cooperation.
Recall that after redesignating Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” over an alleged Christian genocide, Trump in 2025 threatened to invade Nigeria if the government failed to address the issue.
The US later launched an airstrike targeted at the terrorists in the northern part of the country.
