About 100 U.S. troops and military equipment arrived in Nigeria on Monday to support local forces battling Islamic militants and other armed groups in the West African country, the Nigerian military said.
The US personnel landed as part of a broader security cooperation between Washington and Abuja, with another 100 arriving over time.
The arrival came at the request of the Nigerian government, which sought assistance with training, technical support and intelligence sharing in its fight against violence, the Associated press reported.
About 200 U.S. Africa Command personnel in total are expected to deploy to Nigeria in what officials have described as a support mission aimed at strengthening the capacity of the Nigerian armed forces.
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U.S. Army Lt. Gen. John W. Brennan, deputy commander of the U.S. Africa Command, met Nigerian officials upon arrival in Nigeria for talks. (U.S. Army Sergeant 1st Class Kenneth Tucceri)
The efforts are aimed at combating Islamist extremist groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa, both of which have carried out attacks in northern Nigeria and the Lake Chad region.
The first batch of troops represents the first group of what is expected to be a roughly 200-person deployment, including U.S. intelligence analysts, advisers and trainers.
The move follows recent visits by senior officials from the US Africa Command to Abuja to strengthen military-to-military ties and expand counter-terrorism cooperation.
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Nigerian soldiers man a checkpoint in Gwoza, Nigeria. (AP Photo/Lekan Oyekanmi)
On February 8, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu met with a high-level US delegation led by the Commander of the US Africa Command, General Dagvin Anderson, at the State House in Abuja, according to The Nigerian presidency.
The meeting included senior officials from Nigeria’s military, security and intelligence services and focused on expanding intelligence sharing and operational coordination.
Monday’s deployment came after tensions between Washington and Abuja eased following earlier friction over religious violence and civil protection.
AMERICANS CANNOT CLOSE OUR EYES TO THE MURDER OF CHRISTIANS IN NIGERIA
Split between President Donald Trump and President of Nigeria Bola Tinubu (Ton Molina/Getty Images; Charly Tribelleau/AFP via Getty Images)
President Donald Trump had previously accused Nigeria of failing to protect Christians from what he described as a genocide, citing attacks by extremist groups and armed bandits.
Trump ordered airstrikes on Islamic State militants on December 25, saying they were responsible for killing Christians.
Africom carried out attacks in Sokoto state in northwestern Nigeria, targeting what it described as Islamic State terrorists, saying they were coordinated with Nigerian authorities.
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“The United States launched a powerful and deadly attack on the ISIS terrorist scum in Northwestern Nigeria, which is primarily targeting and viciously killing innocent Christians at levels not seen in many years and even centuries!” Trump said this in a message on Truth Social at the time.
