US deploys drones, troops to support Nigeria’s counterterrorism operations

The United States has deployed multiple MQ-9 drones and about 200 troops to Nigeria to provide intelligence and training support in the fight against insurgency in the country’s northern regions.

According to officials from both countries, the mission is strictly limited to surveillance and advisory roles, with no U.S. personnel involved in frontline combat operations or drone strikes.

Sources told Reuters that the deployment was made at the request of Nigerian authorities to enhance efforts to identify, monitor, and respond to terrorist threats.

A U.S. defence official described the collaboration as a response to a shared security challenge, noting that the operation focuses on intelligence gathering and capacity building.

Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters confirmed the presence of U.S. personnel, with Samaila Uba, Director of Defence Information, stating that the troops are operating from an airfield in Bauchi State.

He explained that the deployment builds on an existing U.S.-Nigeria intelligence fusion cell, which provides actionable intelligence to Nigerian field commanders. He emphasised that American forces remain in a strictly non-combat role.

The MQ-9 drones—also known as Reaper drones—are capable of long-endurance flights and advanced surveillance operations. Officials clarified that the drones currently deployed in Nigeria are being used exclusively for intelligence purposes.

The development comes amid rising insecurity in the northeast and northwest, where insurgent groups such as Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province continue to launch attacks.

The Nigerian military noted that the duration of the U.S. deployment will be determined jointly by both countries, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen intelligence-sharing and operational capacity.

The latest move follows earlier U.S. military actions, including airstrikes targeting ISIS-linked elements, and forms part of a broader security partnership aimed at combating terrorism and violent extremism in Nigeria.