DHQ admits presence of US troops in Nigeria
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has confirmed the presence of United States military personnel in Nigeria, clarifying that the troops are in the country under a bilateral security partnership and are not involved in combat operations.
The confirmation followed public concerns after the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) disclosed that a small number of US troops had been deployed to Nigeria. In response, the DHQ said the deployment was carried out with the full knowledge and consent of the Nigerian government and strictly within the framework of existing defence cooperation agreements.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Director of Defence Information, Major-General Samaila Uba, explained that the US personnel are engaged in training, intelligence sharing, advisory support, logistics and capacity-building for the Nigerian Armed Forces, particularly in the fight against terrorism and transnational security threats.
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According to the DHQ, the presence of foreign military personnel does not in any way undermine Nigeria’s sovereignty, stressing that all operations within the country remain under the control and command of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
“The engagement with the United States military is part of long-standing cooperation aimed at enhancing Nigeria’s counter-terrorism capabilities through professional military education, strategic dialogue and intelligence collaboration,” the DHQ said.
AFRICOM had earlier stated that the US troops were deployed at the request of the Nigerian government and are focused on advisory and intelligence roles, not frontline combat. The command noted that the deployment aligns with broader efforts to support Nigeria and other regional partners in addressing violent extremism.
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The DHQ also disclosed that senior Nigerian and US defence officials recently held high-level meetings in Abuja to review ongoing cooperation, improve coordination and ensure accountability in joint security efforts.
Nigeria has continued to deepen military partnerships with foreign allies as it battles insurgency and other security challenges, particularly in the North-East, while authorities maintain that such collaborations are guided by national interest, constitutional provisions and respect for sovereignty.
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