The Nigerian military said that about 100 U.S. troops arrived in Nigeria on Monday, following a request from the Nigerian government for assistance in combating Islamic militants and other armed groups.
According to the Nigerian military, the U.S. troops will assist with training, technical support, and intelligence-sharing.
Maj. Gen. Samaila Uba, spokesman for Nigeria’s Defense Headquarters, said that U.S. troops “won’t engage in combat or have a direct operational role,” and that Nigerian forces will retain complete command authority.
Last month, following discussions with Nigerian authorities in Abuja, the head of U.S. Africa Command confirmed that a small team of U.S. military officers was in Nigeria, focused on intelligence support.
Nigeria is engaged in a protracted fight with dozens of local armed groups competing for territory, including Islamic sects such as the homegrown Boko Haram and its breakaway faction, the Islamic State West Africa Province.
In December, U.S. forces conducted airstrikes against Islamic State group-affiliated militants in northwestern Nigeria.
.@POTUS “Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years, and… pic.twitter.com/ct7rUW128t
— Department of War 🇺🇸 (@DeptofWar) December 26, 2025
