The United States has deployed about 200 troops and several MQ-9 drones to Nigeria to support the fight against insurgents, according to US and Nigerian officials.
The personnel are focused on training and intelligence sharing, not frontline combat. Officials said the drones are being used strictly for surveillance and are not carrying out airstrikes.
The move signals renewed US involvement in tackling extremist groups linked to ISIS and al-Qaeda across West Africa, following reported US strikes on militant targets in northwest Nigeria in late 2025.
A US defence official said the deployment was made at Nigeria’s request, describing the threat as a shared security concern.
Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters confirmed the presence of US assets at Bauchi airfield. Major General Samaila Uba said the partnership is part of a joint intelligence effort providing real-time information to commanders in the field, while stressing that US forces remain in a non-combat role.
He added that the collaboration is helping Nigerian forces better identify, track and respond to security threats, with the duration of the deployment to be agreed by both countries.
