The United States has revealed that it will deploy 200 military personnels to Nigeria to train the country’s military, as the West African nation battles insurgents across swathes of its northern territory.
A US official told Reuters that the troops will support a small number of US military personnel who are currently in Nigeria.
The deployment will come after US President Donald Trump identified Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” due to allegations of Christian genocide, which has led to a stronger security collaboration between the two countries.
Recall that last week, Dagvin Anderson, US Africa Command (AFRICOM) commander, visited Nigeria’s capital city of Abuja.
Senior security authorities, including President Bola Tinubu, National Security Advisor (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu, Defence Minister Christopher Musa, Chief of Defence Staff Olufemi Oluyede, Army Staff Chief Waidi Shaibu, and others, welcomed Anderson.
Discussions were held regarding common security objectives, with an emphasis on combating terrorist groups that pose a threat to Nigeria, the US, the region, and international security.
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Although he did not specify the cavalry’s exact number, Anderson said that the US military had already sent some troops to Nigeria as part of a larger bilateral agreement to combat terrorism and associated security challenges.
He also noted that the troops will primarily focus on intelligence gathering and providing support to local forces.
The United States launched missile strikes on two terrorist strongholds in Tangaza LGA, Sokoto state’s Bauni woodland on Christmas Day.
According to Nigeria’s ministry of foreign affairs, the “precision hits” were consistent with “established international practice and bilateral understanding” and resulted from the two nations’ intelligence sharing and strategic coordination.
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