The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) in Abuja has announced the arrival of about 100 United States military personnel and associated equipment at Bauchi Airfield as part of ongoing defence cooperation between Nigeria and the United States.
In a press release issued on Monday and signed by Major General Samaila Uba, Director of Defence Information, the DHQ stated that the deployment forms part of deliberations reached during a working group engagement between a Nigerian delegation and its US counterpart. According to the statement, the arrival of the US military trainers followed a formal request by the Federal Government of Nigeria to the US government to support clearly defined areas of military training, technical assistance and intelligence sharing.
The DHQ described the deployment as planned and deliberate, stressing that it was initiated at Nigeria’s request to enhance the operational effectiveness of the Armed Forces of Nigeria. The statement noted that the collaboration is intended to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture at a time when the country continues to confront insurgency, banditry and other asymmetric threats across multiple regions.
According to the military high command, the partnership will provide Nigerian troops with access to specialised technical capabilities aimed at improving their ability to deter terrorist threats and protect vulnerable communities. It added that the support framework includes structured training engagements, intelligence-focused cooperation and technical advisory services designed to boost operational coordination.
The DHQ was explicit in clarifying that the US personnel are not combat troops and will not participate in direct fighting. It stated that the foreign military personnel are technical specialists serving strictly in an advisory and training capacity. All activities, the statement emphasised, will be conducted under the authority, direction and control of the Nigerian government and in close coordination with Nigerian military leadership.
Nigerian troops are expected to commence a series of joint training engagements with the US advisers under the cooperation arrangement. The military said these engagements will focus on enhancing the capacity of Nigerian forces to identify, track and neutralise extremist groups seeking to destabilise the country. Intelligence-sharing mechanisms are also expected to be strengthened as part of the broader framework.
Reaffirming its commitment to national security, the Armed Forces of Nigeria said it remains fully determined to degrade and defeat terrorist organisations threatening the country’s sovereignty and the safety of its citizens. The military leadership underscored that improving training standards and operational synergy is critical to achieving sustained success against insurgent networks.
The DHQ also assured Nigerians that it would maintain transparency in its communications regarding the military cooperation. It pledged to provide clear, accurate and timely information about the scope and objectives of the partnership with the United States.
The announcement follows earlier reports that the United States would deploy up to 200 troops to Nigeria to provide expanded training and technical support to the country’s armed forces. Both Nigerian and US officials had stressed that the personnel would not engage in direct combat operations but would instead focus on advisory roles.
Speaking previously to AFP, Major General Samaila Uba confirmed that US troops were being brought in to assist with training and technical support. The development marks an expansion of military cooperation between Washington and Abuja as Nigeria intensifies efforts to combat insurgent and terrorist groups operating in parts of the North-East, North-West and other volatile regions.
According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, the additional 200 US troops are expected to supplement a small American team already in Nigeria that has been assisting with air strike targeting. The reinforcements are projected to arrive in phases over the coming weeks and will focus on strengthening operational coordination between Nigerian ground forces and air components.
Under the cooperation plan, US personnel will provide training and technical guidance, particularly in synchronising air strikes with ground operations. Military analysts say that improved coordination between air and land assets is often decisive in counter-insurgency campaigns, where real-time intelligence and rapid deployment are essential.
Security experts note that Nigeria’s security challenges have evolved in complexity, with insurgent groups adopting adaptive tactics, including the use of improvised explosive devices, coordinated assaults and cross-border movements. In that context, enhanced intelligence-sharing and technical training are seen as critical force multipliers.
The renewed collaboration reflects a broader strategic partnership between Nigeria and the United States in counterterrorism efforts across West Africa. For Nigeria, which has grappled with insurgency for over a decade, international cooperation is viewed as a necessary complement to domestic military reforms and procurement initiatives.
While the presence of foreign military advisers has at times sparked public debate about sovereignty and external influence, Nigerian authorities have consistently maintained that such arrangements are governed by bilateral agreements and remain under national control. The DHQ’s latest statement reiterates that all activities will operate strictly within Nigeria’s command structure.
As joint training activities commence at Bauchi Airfield and other designated locations, defence officials say the objective remains clear: to enhance the professionalism, technical proficiency and operational effectiveness of Nigerian troops in confronting evolving security threats.
The arrival of the US personnel therefore represents not a combat deployment but an advisory mission embedded within Nigeria’s broader counterterrorism strategy. Military authorities insist that the ultimate responsibility for safeguarding the nation rests with Nigerian forces, even as they leverage international partnerships to strengthen capacity and resilience.
