February 17, 2026 l Dalena Reporters
Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters (DHQ) in Abuja has announced that about 100 United States military personnel and associated equipment have arrived in the country as part of an expanded security cooperation effort designed to support the Nigerian Armed Forces in training, technical assistance and intelligence sharing a move officials say aims to strengthen efforts against insurgent and extremist groups.
According to a statement from Major General Samaila Uba, Director of Defence Information at DHQ, the U.S. troops landed at Bauchi Airfield after formal engagements between Nigerian and American defence officials, following a request by the Federal Government of Nigeria for specialised support.
Role and Mission of U.S. Personnel
The DHQ emphasised that the American personnel are technical specialists serving strictly in an advisory, training and intelligence-sharing capacity. They are not combat forces and will operate under the authority and direction of the Nigerian government in close coordination with the nation’s military. Training programmes and joint exercises are expected to commence shortly, with a focus on enhancing the capacity of Nigerian troops to detect, deter and neutralise terrorist threats and other armed groups that continue to destabilise parts of the country.
This deployment comes amid a broader framework of cooperation between Nigeria and the United States, which recently included rounds of American airstrikes against extremist targets in northern Nigeria and diplomatic discussions about how best to confront security challenges that range from Islamist insurgencies in the northeast to banditry and separatist violence in other regions.
Government and Strategic Implications
While the U.S. troops will not engage in direct combat, their presence reflects growing defence collaboration between the two countries. Nigeria has faced persistent pressures from groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), and officials say that strengthening training and intelligence cooperation is a critical step toward improving operational outcomes and safeguarding vulnerable communities.
The DHQ has assured the public that all activities with the U.S. personnel will be transparent and conducted under Nigerian command, reinforcing the government’s commitment to protecting national sovereignty while harnessing international partnership to address security threats.
The arrival of these troops highlights ongoing efforts to deepen military ties with international partners at a time when Nigeria’s defence forces are confronting multilayered security challenges across several regions of the country.