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The United States will deploy 200 troops to Nigeria to train the country’s armed forces in counterinsurgency operations, officials from both countries said Tuesday.
Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters spokesperson, Major General Samaila Uba, confirmed the development.
“We are getting US troops to assist in training and technical support,” Uba told AFP.
The deployment, first reported by The Wall Street Journal, was confirmed by a spokeswoman for the United States Africa Command.
The additional personnel are expected to arrive in the coming weeks.
The US media said that the extra troops, which are anticipated to arrive in the upcoming weeks, will offer “training and technical guidance,” including assisting their Nigerian counterparts in coordinating operations that simultaneously involve ground troops and airstrikes.
A small US team is already in Nigeria assisting with airstrike targeting.
Uba said the American troops will not participate in direct combat operations and that Nigeria requested the expanded assistance.
“US troops aren’t going to be involved in direct combat or operations,” Uba told the Journal, adding that Nigeria requested the additional assistance, he added.
The announcement follows ongoing security cooperation between the United States and Nigeria. In December, US forces conducted strikes targeting militants in Sokoto State in a joint operation with Nigerian authorities, officials from both countries said.
The United States has placed diplomatic pressure on Nigeria due to the insecurity there, which US President Donald Trump has called “persecution” and “genocide” against Christians.
US officials have said future cooperation will include intelligence sharing to support Nigerian air operations and efforts to expedite arms purchases.
