U.S. to Deploy 200 Troops to Nigeria to Train Military Against Islamist Militants

The United States is preparing to deploy approximately 200 troops to Nigeria to help train the country’s military in its fight against Islamist militant groups, according to a U.S. official. The deployment comes weeks after President Donald Trump ordered U.S. airstrikes on what he described as Islamic State-linked targets in Nigeria, signaling a possible expansion of American military involvement in West Africa.

The U.S. military confirmed last week that it had already sent a small team of troops to Nigeria, without disclosing exact numbers. This marked the first official acknowledgment of U.S. forces operating on the ground since airstrikes were carried out on Christmas Day. The additional 200 troops are expected to reinforce a limited U.S. presence already assisting Nigerian security forces with training, advisory support, and coordination.

President Trump has indicated that further U.S. military action in Nigeria remains possible. Reuters previously reported that U.S. surveillance flights have been conducted over Nigeria from neighboring Ghana since at least late November, highlighting Washington’s growing focus on the region’s security challenges. U.S. Africa Command has not yet commented publicly on the planned troop increase.

Nigeria has faced mounting pressure from Washington following accusations by Trump that the Nigerian government has failed to adequately protect Christian communities from Islamist militants operating primarily in the country’s northwest. Nigerian officials strongly reject claims of systematic persecution, emphasizing that military operations target armed groups responsible for violence against both Christians and Muslims.

Militant organizations including Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have escalated attacks in recent months, targeting military convoys and civilians alike. The northwest remains a major hotspot in Nigeria’s 17-year-long Islamist insurgency, which has caused widespread displacement and insecurity.

With a population exceeding 230 million, Nigeria is nearly evenly split between Christians, who largely reside in the south, and Muslims, who dominate the north. The planned U.S. troop deployment underscores Washington’s strategic interest in stabilizing the region and supporting Nigeria’s efforts to combat extremist violence.