DEFENCE MINISTER SAYS US TROOPS IN NIGERIA ON TRAINING AND ADVISORY ROLE

The Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has clarified that United States troops in Nigeria are purely on a training assistance mission while playing an advisory role.

In a statement, Timothy Antigha, Special Adviser on Media to the Minister, relayed that Musa spoke while presiding over the maiden edition of the Monthly Operational Briefing at the ministry’s conference room in Abuja on Wednesday.

“The Americans are in Nigeria on a purely training assistance and advisory role,” Musa was quoted as saying, while assuring that the “armed forces of Nigeria will be in command of all operations conducted within the nation’s territory.”

Antigha stated that the minister reviewed ongoing military operations, highlighted various threats to national security, and provided strategic guidance to the armed services during the briefing.

“General Musa commended the professionalism, resilience, and gallantry of Nigerian troops and reaffirmed the commitment of his ministry to supporting troops’ welfare and improving the operational efficiency of the Armed Forces,” Antigha said.

In February, the United States dispatched ground troops to Nigeria following a new security cooperation agreement between both countries. The US and Nigeria inked the military collaboration accord after the redesignation of Nigeria as a country of particular concern by President Donald Trump.

Trump had previously threatened to send troops into Nigeria “guns-a-blazing to wipe out the terrorists killing our Christians.”

On December 25, the US launched air strikes against two terrorist enclaves in Bauni forest in Tangaza Local Government Area, Sokoto state.

The federal government has repeatedly rejected claims of systemic persecution of Christians in Nigeria.