No fewer than three United States military aircraft landed in Nigeria between Thursday and Friday, according to reports.
The aircraft reportedly touched down at military bases in Borno and other parts of the North-East, delivering ammunition and other logistics to support Nigeria’s fight against insurgency.
Senior officers at the Defence Headquarters, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the deliveries followed bilateral security talks between Nigeria and the United States. According to them, the support forms part of ongoing collaboration aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s counterterrorism operations.
One officer said the US government had agreed not only to deploy personnel but also to provide logistics, including ammunition, to assist in combating insurgents. Another senior officer noted that the military frequently requires replenishment of ammunition after operations and confirmed that such supplies had been delivered in the past.
The New York Times reported that US military aircraft landed in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, on Thursday night, with additional planes seen at the base by Friday evening. A US Department of Defense official told the newspaper that the flights were the beginning of a series of C-17 transport aircraft expected to operate across three major locations in Nigeria.
Posts on social media platform X also tracked the movements of US Air Force cargo aircraft, including a C-130J-30 that reportedly flew from Accra, Ghana, to northeastern Nigeria. Speculation emerged that facilities in Kaduna could serve as training hubs for US personnel working with the Nigerian military.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, had not responded to inquiries on the development as of the time of filing this report.
The development follows earlier reports that about 200 US intelligence analysts, advisers and trainers would be deployed to Nigeria to assist in targeted counterterrorism operations. The New York Times stated that the first group of personnel had already arrived, with more expected in the coming weeks.
The deepening security engagement comes after US President Donald Trump in 2025 warned that America could intervene if Nigeria failed to address attacks on Christians. Since then, both countries have expanded security cooperation.
Security experts have offered mixed reactions to the development. A retired Nigerian Army Intelligence Corps officer, Chris Andrew, said the presence of US personnel should not be seen as a combat deployment but rather as technical and training support, particularly in drone operations and precision air capabilities.
He noted that Nigeria had improved its air operations through collaboration with foreign partners and suggested that establishing a US drone base in Nigeria could enhance counterterrorism efforts, especially following the withdrawal of American forces from Niger.
Another security analyst, Chidi Omeje, described the development as a diplomatic success, saying Nigeria had effectively turned earlier tensions into strategic cooperation. He stressed, however, that any partnership must respect Nigeria’s sovereignty.
According to him, Nigerians affected by terrorism are primarily concerned with restoring peace and security, regardless of the method employed, as long as national interests are protected.
