One hundred United States military personnel, alongside specialised equipment, have landed at Bauchi airfield to support Nigeria’s renewed efforts to combat terrorism and strengthen national security operations.
Gatekeepers News reports that the Defence Headquarters confirmed the development on Monday, explaining that the deployment followed a recent security cooperation agreement between Nigeria and the United States, aimed at improving military capacity through training, technical assistance, and intelligence collaboration.
In a statement issued by the Director of Defence Information, Samaila Uba, the federal government formally requested support from the US in areas including advanced military training, operational advisory services, and intelligence sharing to help Nigerian troops better respond to evolving security threats across the country.
According to Uba, the partnership is designed to grant Nigeria access to specialised technical expertise and modern tactical strategies that will improve the ability of the Armed Forces to counter extremist activities, safeguard vulnerable communities, and reinforce national stability.
“The collaboration will provide access to specialised technical capabilities aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s ability to deter terrorists’ threats and enhance the protection of vulnerable communities across the country,” the statement reads.
He clarified that the American personnel are technical experts assigned strictly to advisory and instructional roles, stressing that they are not combat troops. All training programmes, he said, will operate under the authority and supervision of the federal government and in close coordination with the Nigerian military leadership.
Uba added that joint training exercises and intelligence-focused cooperation initiatives will begin in the coming days, bringing together Nigerian troops and US specialists in programmes designed to improve battlefield readiness, surveillance capacity, intelligence analysis, and counterterrorism operations.
“These activities are designed to enhance the capacity of Nigerian troops to effectively identify and neutralize extremist terrorist groups seeking to destabilize the nation,” he said.
The deployment comes amid sustained military campaigns against insurgent groups, banditry networks, and other violent extremists operating in various parts of the country, particularly in the North-East, North-West, and North-Central regions.
Uba reaffirmed the military’s resolve to dismantle terrorist networks, protect Nigeria’s territorial integrity, and ensure the safety of citizens, while also assuring Nigerians of transparency and regular updates on the progress of the cooperation initiative.
