The US military has deployed multiple MQ-9 drones alongside around 200 troops to Nigeria to provide intelligence and training support to the Nigerian military in its ongoing fight against insurgents across the northern region.
According to US officials, the drones are only used for intelligence collection and are not carrying out airstrikes, and the troops are not integrated with Nigerian combat units.
In the past, the US military used a $100 million drone station in the neighbouring Niger Republic to monitor extremist activity throughout the Sahel with over 1,000 soldiers.
However, the site was closed in 2024 after the military government of Niger issued an order for US personnel to vacate.
According to a US defence official, Nigeria requested that the drones be used alongside troops, mainly to assist with information gathering.
Major General Samaila Uba, Director of Defence Information at Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters, confirmed that US assets are being operated from the Bauchi airfield in the North-East.
“This support builds on the newly established US-Nigeria intelligence fusion cell, which continues to deliver actionable intelligence to our field commanders,” he told Reuters.
“Our US partners remain in a strictly non-combat role, enabling operations led by Nigerian authorities.”
This comes barely a month after the defence headquarters (DHQ) announced that 100 US military personnel and associated equipment have arrived at Bauchi airfield.
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