The United States has deployed 100 military personnel to northern Nigeria to support local forces amid a surge in attacks by armed groups, officials confirmed Monday.
According to Samaila Uba, spokesman for Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters, the troops arrived in the northeastern town of Bauchi and will provide technical support and intelligence to help Nigerian forces combat terrorist organizations, including Boko Haram and ISIL-linked factions such as the Islamic State West Africa Province. Equipment to aid the mission was also sent by the US.
Uba stressed that the American personnel will not engage in direct combat but will operate under the full command of Nigerian authorities, offering technical expertise and intelligence-sharing capabilities.
“The armed forces of Nigeria remain fully committed to defeating terrorist organisations that threaten the country’s security and the safety of its citizens,” Uba told Premium Times.
The deployment follows a spate of deadly attacks in northern Nigeria. Last weekend, gunmen on motorcycles attacked three villages, killing at least 46 people and abducting several others. The worst incident occurred in Konkoso village in Niger State, where at least 38 people were killed.
Nigeria has long struggled with armed groups, including Boko Haram, breakaway factions linked to Islamic State, and other “bandit” groups involved in kidnappings and illegal mining. The conflict has grown more complex with the involvement of fighters from the Sahel region, such as Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin, which carried out its first attack in Nigeria last year.
The US decision comes after months of tensions between the two nations. Last year, US President Donald Trump accused Nigeria of failing to stop killings of Christians and suggested possible military action. The Nigerian government rejected the claim, noting that victims of the violence include both Christians and Muslims.
According to United Nations data, several thousand people have died in the ongoing conflict. Analysts say most victims are Muslims in northern Nigeria, though Christians have also been targeted. Nigeria’s population of roughly 240 million is nearly evenly split between predominantly Muslim northern regions and largely Christian southern regions.
The new US deployment is expected to enhance intelligence cooperation as Nigeria continues its protracted battle against terrorism.
