The United States plans to send approximately 200 troops to Nigeria to assist in training the country’s military in combating Islamist terrorists, a U.S. official confirmed on Tuesday.
This development comes weeks after President Donald Trump ordered airstrikes targeting what he described as Islamic State positions in Nigeria.
Last week, the U.S. military acknowledged the deployment of a small team to Nigeria without providing specific numbers, marking the first public confirmation of American forces on the ground since the Christmas Day 2025 airstrikes.
According to the official, the 200 additional troops will supplement the small contingent already in Nigeria, providing support and training to local forces engaged in counterterrorism operations.
The move follows heightened pressure from Washington on the Nigerian government, after President Trump accused Nigerian authorities of failing to protect Christians in the country’s northwest region from Islamist militants.
The Nigerian government rejected claims of targeted persecution, emphasizing that its operations are aimed at Islamist fighters and other armed groups responsible for attacks on both Christians and Muslims.
