International media outlets have reported the arrival of United States military aircraft and an initial contingent of American troops in north-east Nigeria, signaling a potential escalation of counter-terrorism cooperation between Nigeria and Washington. The New York Times reported that a U.S. military aircraft landed in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, on Thursday night, with further aircraft and personnel anticipated as part of a phased deployment plan. By Friday evening, additional aircraft were sighted at the Maiduguri base, with equipment and personnel being off-loaded.

These initial arrivals, consisting of an estimated 100 to 200 US troops, mark the commencement of C-17 transport flights destined for three primary locations across Nigeria. U.S. defense officials cited in reports indicate that these troops comprise intelligence analysts, advisers, and trainers assigned to bolster Nigeria’s armed forces in various non-combat counter-terrorism functions, including planning, intelligence gathering, and operational support. Major General Samaila Uba, spokesperson for Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters, affirmed to both The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times that U.S. troops would not engage in direct combat operations. He emphasized that "These personnel do not serve in a combat capacity and will not assume a direct operational role," reiterating that "Nigerian forces retain full command authority, make all operational decisions and will lead all missions on Nigerian sovereign territory."

The deployment is a result of recommendations from a US-Nigeria joint working group and aligns with existing bilateral defense engagements between the two nations, which have historically focused on advisory and capacity-building missions, training, intelligence sharing, and technical support. This collaboration aims to enhance Nigeria’s efforts in combating extremist groups operating in the Lake Chad Basin, such as factions linked to the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), and other jihadist groups like Boko Haram in northern states, as well as addressing resource-based conflicts in the Middle Belt or North-central regions.

This renewed focus comes after months of intense pressure from President Trump, who had strongly criticized the Nigerian government for its perceived failure to adequately protect Christians from deadly attacks by Islamist militants and armed groups. While Christians have endured brutal assaults, it is important to note that Muslims and individuals of all beliefs have also suffered significant casualties. Late last year, President Trump had ordered airstrikes in Nigeria on Christmas Day, targeting Islamic State terrorists in the North-west believed to be responsible for killing Christians, with the Nigerian government confirming its cooperation and provision of intelligence for these strikes.

Operational details of the current deployment involve American personnel working with Nigerian forces to establish secure communications, construct base facilities, and enhance operational security, particularly at isolated sites that may lack basic infrastructure. This contingent will also reinforce a small number of US troops already present in Nigeria, who have been training Nigerian special operations units in combat skills like map reading, interpretation, strike missions, and rescue support. Reportedly, the first group of newly trained Nigerian commandos was recently deployed to Plateau State.

Looking ahead, both US and Nigerian forces intend to expand their joint mission-planning capabilities, leveraging intelligence from both governments. This includes information gathered by US surveillance flights operating from a base in neighboring Ghana. While Major General Uba did not specify the duration of the American forces' stay, the U.S. has indicated that this deployment is intended to be temporary. As of press time, however, there has been no official statement from the Nigerian Presidency or military to formally confirm or deny the reported arrival, leaving the precise scope and mandate of the deployment somewhat unclear to the public.