United States Confirms Deployment of Ground Troops to Nigeria Amid Rising Terror Threats

The United States has confirmed the deployment of a small contingent of ground troops to Nigeria as part of expanded counterterrorism cooperation between both countries, marking the first official acknowledgment of U.S. forces operating on Nigerian soil since American airstrikes targeted suspected terrorist positions during the Christmas period.

The disclosure was made on Tuesday by General Dagvin R. M. Anderson, Commander of the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), during a press briefing with journalists. According to the senior military official, the deployment followed mutual consultations between Washington and Abuja, with both governments agreeing that enhanced collaboration was necessary to address the growing terrorist threat in West Africa.

“This has led to increased collaboration between our nations, including the presence of a small U.S. team that brings unique capabilities from the United States,” General Anderson stated. He, however, declined to provide specific details regarding the size, operational scope, or duration of the mission, citing security considerations.

The announcement comes weeks after President Donald Trump ordered U.S. airstrikes on locations described by the White House as Islamic State-linked targets in Nigeria. The strikes, which reportedly took place in Sokoto State, were conducted in coordination with Nigerian authorities and, according to AFRICOM, resulted in the deaths of multiple Islamic State militants operating in the region.

Reuters had earlier reported that the United States had been conducting intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance operations over Nigeria from bases in Ghana since at least late November, signaling a gradual escalation of U.S. involvement in the region’s security challenges.

Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, confirmed the presence of U.S. personnel in the country but offered no further details about their mission or operational mandate. A former U.S. official familiar with the matter indicated that the deployed team is primarily focused on intelligence gathering, strategic planning, and enabling Nigerian forces to carry out targeted operations against terrorist and extremist groups.

The deployment has taken place against the backdrop of heightened diplomatic pressure from Washington. President Trump has repeatedly accused Nigeria of failing to adequately protect Christian communities from attacks by Islamist militants, particularly in the country’s northwest. He has described the situation as an “existential threat” to Christianity and warned of further U.S. military intervention if violence continues unabated.

The Nigerian government has strongly rejected allegations of religious persecution, insisting that its security operations target criminal and extremist groups without regard to religious affiliation. Officials maintain that both Christian and Muslim civilians have been victims of insurgent violence, banditry, and terrorism across different parts of the country.

For more than 17 years, Nigeria has battled an Islamist insurgency spearheaded by Boko Haram and its splinter faction, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). While the epicenter of the conflict has historically been the northeast, attacks have increasingly spread to the northwest, where militants have targeted military convoys, rural communities, and critical infrastructure.

The confirmation of U.S. ground troop deployment has sparked intense public debate within Nigeria. Supporters argue that enhanced U.S. involvement could significantly strengthen Nigeria’s counterterrorism capabilities, particularly in intelligence, surveillance, and precision targeting. Others, however, have raised concerns about national sovereignty, warning that the presence of foreign troops could set a troubling precedent and deepen Nigeria’s dependence on external military assistance.

Security analysts note that the United States maintains military personnel and facilities across multiple regions globally, often under bilateral agreements focused on counterterrorism, training, and intelligence sharing. They caution that while foreign assistance can provide short-term tactical advantages, long-term security stability ultimately depends on domestic political will, institutional reform, and effective governance.

As insecurity continues to dominate Nigeria’s national discourse, the deployment underscores the seriousness with which both governments view the evolving threat landscape in West Africa. Whether the expanded U.S. role will translate into measurable improvements on the ground remains uncertain, but the development represents a significant shift in Nigeria’s counterterrorism engagement with its most powerful international security partner.

For now, both Nigerian and U.S. officials have emphasized that the collaboration is aimed at supporting Nigeria’s efforts rather than replacing them, even as the situation continues to draw international scrutiny and domestic debate.