politics
February 5, 2026
US deploys ‘small team’ to Nigeria
AFRICOM chief General Dagvin Anderson has said US forces are in Nigeria to “augment” the African state’s security efforts
TL;DR
- A small US military team has been deployed to Nigeria to support counterterrorism efforts.
- The deployment follows discussions between AFRICOM commander General Dagvin R.M. Anderson and Nigerian President Bola Tinubu.
- The US team brings unique capabilities to augment Nigeria's existing counterterrorism operations.
- This is the first official acknowledgment of US troops in Nigeria since US airstrikes against Islamic State militants on Christmas Day.
- Nigeria has been facing a decade-long security crisis driven by insurgencies led by Boko Haram and ISWAP.
- Nigeria has previously rejected unilateral military intervention but agreed to a bilateral security agreement with the US.
- The deployment signals renewed US military interest in Africa, with AFRICOM reassessing its presence.
- AFRICOM commander General Anderson has been engaging with African partners on joint security efforts.
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