Report: U.S. To Deploy 200 Troops To Nigeria For Military Training

The United States government is reportedly preparing to deploy about 200 troops to Nigeria to support the country’s armed forces with training and operational assistance as they continue campaigns against militant groups.

According to a U.S. official cited by The Wall Street Journal, the soldiers will help strengthen Nigeria’s military capacity through specialised training and collaboration with local forces.

The planned deployment comes weeks after U.S. President Donald Trump approved airstrikes targeting what he described as Islamic State positions.

Reports indicate that a small number of American military personnel are already in Nigeria, with the U.S. military confirming last week that a limited team had been sent, though it did not disclose the size.

That announcement marked the first public confirmation that U.S. troops were on the ground following airstrikes carried out on Christmas Day.

The additional 200 personnel are expected to reinforce the existing team and work closely with Nigerian forces to enhance their response to militant attacks. The U.S. Africa Command did not immediately comment further on the reported deployment.

Separately, reports suggest the United States has been conducting surveillance flights over Nigeria from Ghana since late November to monitor security threats.

Washington has in recent months increased pressure on Nigeria over its handling of security challenges, particularly after Trump accused the country of failing to adequately protect Christians from attacks by Islamist militants in the northwest.

Nigerian authorities have rejected the claim, insisting there is no organised persecution of Christians and maintaining that military operations target armed groups irrespective of religion.

Nigeria has battled insurgent violence for about 17 years, with groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) carrying out attacks against both civilians and security personnel.

The country, with a population exceeding 230 million, is almost evenly divided between Christians largely in the south and Muslims, predominantly in the north, and the conflict has affected communities across both faiths.