U.S. Confirms Deployment of Military Personnel to Nigeria to Support Anti-Terror Operations

 The United States has officially confirmed the deployment of a small team of its military personnel to Nigeria, marking the first public acknowledgment that U.S. forces are currently operating on Nigerian soil amid growing security concerns in West Africa.

The confirmation was made by General Dagvin R. M. Anderson, the head of the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), during a press briefing. According to him, the deployment followed high-level discussions between the U.S. and Nigerian governments, including a meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Rome late last year.

General Anderson explained that both countries agreed that existing efforts to combat terrorism and violent extremism in the region needed to be strengthened. This consensus led to deeper military cooperation and the decision to send a small U.S. team to Nigeria.

He stated that the deployed personnel are bringing specialized capabilities designed to support Nigeria’s ongoing security operations. These capabilities are expected to focus on intelligence support, strategic planning, and operational coordination, aimed at enhancing Nigeria’s fight against extremist groups.

Although the exact date of the team’s arrival has not been disclosed, officials indicated that the personnel are already on the ground and working in collaboration with Nigerian forces. The U.S. military emphasized that the team’s role is supportive and meant to complement efforts Nigeria has sustained for several years.

The deployment comes amid heightened counterterrorism activity in the region and follows U.S. airstrikes carried out on December 25 against an Islamic State-affiliated group operating in West Africa. Security analysts view the move as part of broader efforts by both nations to curb the spread of terrorist networks across the region.