US deploys drones, 200 troops to support Nigeria’s anti-terrorism  fight 

The United States has deployed multiple MQ-9 Reaper drones and about 200 military personnel to Nigeria to boost intelligence gathering and training support for the country’s armed forces in the ongoing fight against insurgency in the northern region.

This, according to U.S. and Nigerian officials quoted by Reuters, is strictly limited to surveillance and advisory roles, with no American troops embedded in frontline combat units and no drone airstrikes currently being conducted.

“The U.S. military has multiple MQ-9 drones operating in Nigeria alongside 200 troops to provide training and intelligence support to the military,” the officials said.

The report noted that the deployment was initiated at the request of Nigerian authorities to enhance the military’s capacity to identify, track, and respond to terrorist threats.

“We see this as a shared security threat,” a U.S. defence official told Reuters, emphasising that the mission remains focused on intelligence collection and operational support rather than direct combat.

Read also: DHQ denies reports of planned US drone base relocation to Nigeria

Samaila Uba, Nigeria’s  Director of Defence Information, confirmed that U.S. personnel and assets are operating from Bauchi Airfield in the North-East, describing the collaboration as part of a broader intelligence-sharing framework between both countries.

“This support builds on the newly established U.S.-Nigeria intelligence fusion cell, which continues to deliver actionable intelligence to our field commanders.

“Our U.S. partners remain in a strictly non-combat role, enabling operations led by Nigerian authorities,” he said.

The MQ-9 drones, commonly referred to as Reaper drones, are high-endurance unmanned aerial systems capable of staying airborne for over 27 hours.

While they can be configured for precision strikes, officials clarified that those currently deployed in Nigeria are being used exclusively for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions.

“Our U.S. forces are helping Nigeria identify, track and respond to terrorist threats,” Uba added, without disclosing operational details.

The deployment comes amid renewed security concerns across northern Nigeria.

According to Reuters, recent attacks have underscored the persistent threat posed by insurgent groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), particularly in the North-East and parts of the North-West.

“We continue to assess that these organisations will seek opportunistic targets and may attempt to demonstrate relevance through high-visibility attacks,” Uba warned.

Military authorities said the duration of the U.S. deployment would be determined jointly by both countries, reflecting an evolving partnership aimed at strengthening intelligence-sharing and building operational capacity.

Read also: Inside Boko Haram’s bloody reunion

The latest move follows earlier U.S. military actions in the region. On Christmas Day, airstrikes authorised under Donald Trump targeted ISIS-linked elements in northwest Nigeria, in what the Federal Government described as part of a coordinated effort with international allies to combat terrorism and violent extremism.

In February, reports also indicated that approximately 200 U.S. troops had been deployed to Nigeria to provide training and operational support, with American officials linking the move to concerns about escalating militant activity and the protection of vulnerable communities.