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By Lizzy Chirkpi
The United States of America has deployed a small number of troops to Nigeria as part of expanding security cooperation between both nations.
The confirmation came from Dagvin Anderson, head of the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), during a media briefing on Tuesday. It marks the first time Washington has openly acknowledged having personnel on the ground in Nigeria since airstrikes were carried out under former President Donald Trump.
According to Anderson, the decision followed talks with President Bola Tinubu in Rome toward the end of last year, which helped deepen military collaboration.
“That has led to increased collaboration between our nations, to include a small U.S. team that brings some unique capabilities from the United States in order to augment what Nigeria has been doing for several years,” he said.
He did not disclose the size of the team or when they were deployed.
The move comes shortly after U.S. Under-Secretary of State Allison Hooker visited Abuja with officials from eight federal agencies for a joint security working session with Nigerian authorities. National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu led Nigeria’s delegation.
The meeting followed Washington’s decision to again list Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” (CPC), citing ongoing security challenges and religious violence.
Trump had previously warned he could send American troops into Nigeria “guns-a-blazing to wipe out the terrorists killing our Christians”.
On Christmas Day, U.S. forces launched airstrikes on two terrorist hideouts in the Bauni Forest, located in Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State that allegedly killed scores of terrorists.