U.S. to Deploy 200 Troops to Train Nigerian Forces Against Insurgents

The administration of President Donald Trump has approved the deployment of 200 U.S. soldiers to Nigeria to provide combat training to the country’s armed forces as they confront long-running insurgencies linked to Boko Haram and other extremist groups.

The decision follows recent U.S. airstrikes in Sokoto State and comes at the request of President Bola Tinubu, according to a report by the *Wall Street Journal*. The troops will train Nigerian personnel in air and infantry coordination, intelligence gathering, and operational planning aimed at countering terrorist and bandit groups.

A spokesperson for U.S. Africa Command said the move reflects growing concern about extremist activity in West Africa. “The terrorist activity in West Africa—and Nigeria specifically—is something we’re incredibly concerned with. We want to partner with capable and willing partners that are able to address these shared security concerns,” the spokesperson said.

The soldiers are expected to arrive in Nigeria in the coming weeks. Nigerian military officials said their role will be limited to training and technical support.

Major-General Samaila Uba, spokesperson for the Nigerian Armed Forces, stated that the U.S. personnel “aren’t going to be involved in direct combat or operations,” emphasizing that their mission is advisory.

Security cooperation between the two countries has intensified since late 2025, when the U.S. redesignated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern over religious violence. Nigerian officials have maintained that many of the killings in affected regions stem from disputes between herders and farmers rather than targeted religious persecution.

President Tinubu has repeatedly signaled his administration’s willingness to work closely with Washington to address the insurgency. Last year, he met with U.S. General R.M. Dagvin Anderson in Rome, where both sides agreed to expand security collaboration.

On Friday, First Lady Remi Tinubu, speaking on Fox TV, praised recent U.S. strikes against insurgent positions in Nigeria’s North-East and called for continued international support in the fight against terrorism.

The latest deployment marks a new phase in U.S.–Nigeria military cooperation, focused on strengthening local capacity to respond to evolving security threats.