US to Send 200 Troops to Train Nigerian Military Amid Rising Insecurity

The United States has announced plans to deploy 200 troops to Nigeria to train the country’s military as part of a growing security partnership aimed at countering jihadist insurgencies and other extremist threats.

According to officials, the deployment will be focused on training, technical support and coordination, with American forces providing advisory roles rather than engaging in direct combat operations.

Major General Samaila Uba, spokesman for Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters, confirmed the arrangement, stating,

“We are getting US troops to assist in training and technical support.”

The move will supplement a small team of US military personnel already in Nigeria and is expected to strengthen operational coordination, including joint planning of air strikes and ground operations.

Officials say the troops will arrive in the coming weeks and provide guidance to Nigerian forces battling insurgent groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), which have continued to carry out attacks across northern Nigeria.

The deployment reflects deeper bilateral cooperation between Washington and Abuja amid longstanding security challenges and shared counter-terrorism goals.