ABUJA (Realist English). The United States will deploy military personnel to Nigeria to train local forces in counter-extremism operations, Nigerian defense officials said on Wednesday, as the country grapples with a deepening security crisis in its northern regions.
Major General Samaila Uba, spokesperson for Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters, said the American contingent would focus on technical assistance and training. The US personnel will not participate in combat operations and will not have a direct operational role, he said, adding that Nigerian forces will retain full command authority.
“At the invitation of the Government of Nigeria and in continuation of our longstanding security cooperation and military-to-military partnership with the United States, Nigeria will host a contingent of United States technical and training personnel,” Uba said in a statement.
A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly, said approximately 200 American troops are expected to arrive. The deployment was first reported by The Wall Street Journal.
Nigeria has drawn increased attention from Washington after President Donald Trump accused the Nigerian government of failing to protect Christians from what he described as a genocide. Abuja rejected the claim, and analysts argue the violence is more complex, affecting communities across religious lines.
In December, US forces conducted airstrikes against militants affiliated with the so-called Islamic State group in northwestern Nigeria. Last month, the head of US Africa Command confirmed that a small team of American officers was already present in the country, primarily providing intelligence support.
Nigeria is confronting multiple armed groups operating across its territory. These include the Islamist insurgent group Boko Haram and its splinter faction, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), as well as other armed networks involved in kidnapping for ransom and illegal mining. Militants linked to the Sahel-based Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) have also expanded activity toward Nigeria, claiming their first attack inside the country last year.
According to United Nations data, several thousand people have been killed in Nigeria’s prolonged conflict. Analysts say the government faces mounting pressure to strengthen civilian protection and restore stability in affected regions.
While Christian communities have been targeted in some attacks, observers note that the majority of victims in the predominantly Muslim north — where most violence occurs — are Muslims. The evolving crisis underscores the scale and complexity of Nigeria’s security challenges, even as international military cooperation expands.