The United States will deploy approximately 200 troops to Nigeria to assist in training the country’s military as it confronts a worsening security crisis driven by extremist and armed groups, Nigerian authorities confirmed Wednesday.
According to Nigeria’s Defense Headquarters, the American personnel will serve strictly in a training and technical advisory capacity. They will not engage in combat operations or assume any direct operational role. Nigerian forces will retain full command authority throughout the deployment.
Maj. Gen. Samaila Uba, spokesperson for the Defense Headquarters, said the move follows an invitation from the Nigerian government and reflects ongoing military to military cooperation between the two countries. He described the deployment as part of a longstanding security partnership aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s capacity to respond to complex threats.
A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that roughly 200 American troops are expected to arrive in the country. The official noted that the mission will focus primarily on training, intelligence sharing and capacity building rather than frontline engagement.
Nigeria faces one of the most multifaceted security crises in West Africa. Armed groups operate across large swaths of the north, including Islamist insurgents such as Boko Haram and its breakaway faction Islamic State West Africa Province. Other actors include bandit networks involved in kidnapping for ransom, illegal mining and violent raids on rural communities. More recently, militants linked to Jama’at Nusrat al Islam wal Muslimin, active in the Sahel region, have extended operations into Nigerian territory.
The conflict has claimed thousands of lives over more than a decade, according to United Nations data, and has displaced large numbers of civilians. Entire villages have been attacked, deepening humanitarian challenges in already fragile regions. Analysts say the evolving nature of the violence requires improved coordination, intelligence capabilities and training to counter increasingly sophisticated tactics used by armed groups.
The U.S. engagement comes amid heightened political attention to Nigeria’s security situation. Previous statements by U.S. President Donald Trump accused Nigerian authorities of failing to protect Christian communities from violence, a claim rejected by Nigerian officials. Security analysts have cautioned that the conflict is driven by multiple factors, including insurgency, criminality and local disputes, and that victims include both Muslims and Christians, particularly in northern states.
In recent months, the United States has also carried out limited air operations targeting Islamic State affiliated militants in the region, and a small team of U.S. officers has been present in Nigeria focusing on intelligence support.
Nigerian authorities have emphasized that the new deployment is designed to enhance professional training and operational readiness, while maintaining national sovereignty and command structures. The arrival of U.S. trainers is expected in the coming weeks as both governments continue to coordinate the scope and duration of the mission.
