The United States military has confirmed that a small team of forces has been dispatched to Nigeria as part of joint efforts to address ongoing terrorist threats, the head of the U.S. Africa Command said at a briefing, officials said.
Nigeria continues to confront violent extremist groups including Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), which have waged a long-running insurgency and carried out attacks on civilians and security forces, particularly in the country’s northern regions.
In December 2025, the United States carried out airstrikes against Islamic State-affiliated militants in northern Nigeria in coordination with Nigerian authorities as part of broader counter-terrorism activities.
The United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) oversees U.S. military operations and engagement across the African continent, including collaboration on security challenges affecting regional stability.
General Dagvin R.M. Anderson, head of AFRICOM, confirmed that a small team of U.S. military personnel is operating in Nigeria in support of efforts to counter terrorist threats.
Details on the number of troops, specific locations and the precise nature of their activities were not disclosed at the briefing.
The deployment follows consultations and agreement between Nigerian and U.S. authorities on enhanced cooperation against violent extremist groups, with the team said to bring “unique capabilities” from the United States to complement Nigerian security operations.
Nigeria’s Defence Minister, General Christopher Musa (retd.), confirmed that the U.S. team was present in the country, but did not provide further operational details.
The acknowledged presence of U.S. forces in Nigeria reflects ongoing international cooperation on security and counter-terrorism issues. Expanding collaboration may support intelligence sharing and operational planning against organised armed groups that threaten regional stability.
Persistent attacks by extremist organisations continue to pose security challenges, contributing to civilian displacement and humanitarian concerns across parts of northern Nigeria.
The United States military has confirmed the dispatch of a small team to Nigeria to support collaborative efforts against terrorist threats, according to AFRICOM.
Nigerian and U.S. officials have acknowledged the deployment, which comes amid ongoing security concerns related to extremist group activity in the region.
