The United States has deployed about 200 military personnel to Nigeria to support the country’s fight against Islamist militants through training and operational assistance.
The development was reported after an American official confirmed that the move is aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s counterterrorism capacity.
The personnel are expected to work alongside Nigerian forces and add to the small number of US advisers already in the country.
Officials said the focus of the deployment is training, intelligence support and capacity building rather than direct combat operations.
The Commander of the United States Africa Command confirmed increased cooperation between both countries following recent high-level meetings.
He said discussions with Nigerian authorities led to an agreement to deepen collaboration in tackling security challenges in the region.
According to him, the US team brings specialised capabilities to support ongoing efforts by Nigerian forces.
Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters clarified that the partnership is based on professional military education, intelligence sharing, logistics support and strategic dialogue.
The military stressed that all engagements are carried out with full respect for Nigeria’s sovereignty and within existing bilateral agreements.
The clarification followed media reports and public reactions suggesting the presence of foreign troops for combat duties.
In a statement, the Defence authorities reaffirmed that the relationship with the United States is long-standing and structured around mutual security interests.
The issue was also discussed when President Bola Tinubu received a delegation led by the USAFRICOM commander at the State House in Abuja.
The meeting centred on strengthening defence cooperation and regional security efforts to address terrorism and related threats.