The first group of U.S. military personnel has arrived in Nigeria, marking the start of a planned deployment of about 200 American intelligence analysts, advisers and trainers to support Nigerian forces in counterterrorism operations, officials said Friday.
A U.S. military aircraft landed in Maiduguri, Borno State, on Thursday night, bringing the initial tranche of approximately 100 personnel. Additional aircraft carrying troops and equipment are expected in the coming weeks.
Advisory, non-combat role
According to Nigerian defence authorities, the U.S. personnel will focus on intelligence, training and technical support rather than direct combat.
Maj. Gen. Samaila Uba, a Nigerian defence spokesman, said the American troops would not assume operational command.
“These personnel do not serve in a combat capacity and will not assume a direct operational role,” Uba said. “Nigerian forces retain full command authority, make all operational decisions and will lead all missions on Nigerian sovereign territory.”
A U.S. Defense Department official also confirmed that the deployment is advisory in nature, with American personnel expected to operate primarily from command posts.
Focus on insurgency-hit regions
The deployment follows recommendations from a joint U.S.-Nigeria working group on security cooperation. U.S. personnel will provide advisory support at various locations, particularly in northern states where jihadist groups such as Boko Haram have been active.
Operations are also expected to extend to parts of Nigeria’s Middle Belt, where intercommunal violence and attacks on Christian communities have been reported.
A Nigerian official said the joint operational footprint would span several volatile regions, with early efforts focused on strengthening intelligence sharing, mission planning and operational coordination.
Infrastructure and intelligence build-up
Because some of the deployments are in remote areas with limited infrastructure, initial activities will involve establishing secure communications systems, reinforcing base infrastructure and enhancing operational security alongside Nigerian forces.
The first batch of newly trained Nigerian special forces was deployed to Plateau State earlier this week, officials said.
Combined U.S.-Nigerian teams are expected to build joint mission-planning capabilities using shared intelligence resources, including U.S. surveillance flights operating from Ghana.
Temporary mission
The U.S. Department of Defense described the mission as temporary and expected to last several months. However, officials indicated that further deployments could follow if the collaboration yields measurable results.
The latest move underscores renewed security cooperation between Washington and Abuja as Nigeria continues to grapple with insurgency, banditry and communal violence in multiple regions.
