The United States has confirmed the presence of American troops on the ground in Nigeria, marking a new phase in its military collaboration with the West African nation against terrorist groups.
General Dagvin Anderson, head of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), announced the deployment during a press briefing, stating that a “small U.S. team” with “unique capabilities” is now operating in Nigeria following mutual agreement between both countries. He did not specify the size or exact mission of the unit.
This move follows U.S. airstrikes on Christmas Day targeting Islamic State (ISIS) affiliates in Nigeria’s Sokoto State, which were coordinated with Nigerian authorities. Since at least late November, the U.S. has also been conducting surveillance flights over Nigeria from neighboring Ghana.
According to a former U.S. official, the team is largely focused on intelligence gathering and supporting Nigerian forces in strikes against terrorist networks. Nigerian Defence Minister Christopher Musa acknowledged the team’s presence but offered no further details.
The increased U.S. military engagement comes amid sustained pressure from Washington on Nigeria to address terrorist violence. President Donald Trump has repeatedly accused the Nigerian government of failing to protect Christian communities from attacks by Islamist militants—an allegation Abuja denies, insisting its operations target all armed groups threatening civilians.
The region remains a hotspot for violence led by Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), with ongoing attacks on military and civilian targets.
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