The United States has formally acknowledged the presence of its troops in Nigeria, confirming that a limited contingent of 0 forces has been deployed to the country. This marks the first public confirmation of US boots on the ground since air operations carried out late last year.
According to a report by Reuters, the disclosure was made on Tuesday by the commander of US Africa Command, Dagvin Anderson. He explained that the deployment followed consultations and a joint understanding between Washington and Abuja, aimed at reinforcing counterterrorism cooperation amid persistent security threats in the region.
The announcement comes against the backdrop of US military action in December, when airstrikes ordered by President Donald Trump targeted locations he described as Islamic State-linked camps in Nigeria’s North-east.
Although officials from both countries maintained that the strikes achieved their intended objectives, subsequent developments raised concerns. Unexploded ordnance, believed to be remnants from the attacks, was reportedly discovered in civilian-populated communities across Kwara, Niger and Sokoto states.
Those missile strikes, carried out on December 25, occurred only weeks after President Trump issued unusually harsh remarks about Nigeria. At the time, he threatened a forceful military response following his decision to redesignate the country as a “country of particular concern,” citing allegations of widespread violence against Christians—claims that Nigerian authorities strongly disputed.
The newly confirmed troop deployment signals a shift from aerial intervention to closer on-ground coordination, as both governments seek to address extremist activity while navigating the political and humanitarian sensitivities surrounding foreign military involvement.
While he was reacting to the development, a former senator representing the Kaduna Central Senatorial District, Shehu Sani, on his verified X handle wrote, “PLEASE, when you read headlines that say ‘US troops now in Nigeria,’ have the patience to read the complete story so that you can make informed and intelligent comment on the matter.
This will help prevent you from lazily dispensing negative thoughts, toxic speculation or diffusing fake stories crafted from a simple headline.”
