United States has deployed about 200 troops to train Nigeria’s military in the fight against terrorists, The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday.
An American military official told the newspaper that the deployment comes weeks after US President Donald Trump accused Nigeria of failing to protect Christians from terrorist attacks.
US and Nigerian officials said the newly deployed personnel would supplement a small number of US military advisers already in Nigeria, who assist local forces with intelligence to identify targets for military attacks.
The Commander of the United States Africa Command, Gen Dagvin R. Anderson, said he met with President Bola Tinubu during which they shared some thoughts and agreed that there was need to work together.
“That has led to increased collaboration between our nations, including a small US team that brings unique capabilities from the United States to augment what Nigeria has been doing for several years.”
The Defence Headquarters also clarified that Nigeria’s security partnership with the United States was focused on capacity building rather than combat operations.
The spokesperson of Defense Headquarters, Maj Gen Samaila Uba, said all engagements with the United States were conducted with full respect for Nigeria’s sovereignty and within established bilateral frameworks.
Gen. Uba said the collaboration involves military training, intelligence sharing, logistics support, and strategic dialogue aimed at addressing shared security challenges, particularly terrorism.
“The Armed Forces of Nigeria wishes to state that Nigeria maintains a long-standing and structured security partnership with the United States,” the statement read.
