The United States has deployed surveillance drones and personnel to support Nigeria’s counter-insurgency operations, providing intelligence and training to security forces battling militant groups in the northern region.
Officials from both countries confirmed that about 200 U.S. troops are currently stationed in Nigeria, alongside several MQ-9 drones, to assist in intelligence gathering. The personnel are not engaged in frontline combat, while the drones are being used strictly for surveillance purposes.
The deployment follows recent U.S. airstrikes targeting militant positions in north-west Nigeria late last year, signalling renewed American involvement in addressing extremist threats linked to groups such as Boko Haram and Islamic State affiliates in West Africa.
According to Nigerian military authorities, the U.S. assets are operating from an airfield in the north-east, where they contribute to a joint intelligence-sharing arrangement aimed at improving operational effectiveness.
“This support builds on the newly established U.S.-Nigeria intelligence fusion cell, which continues to deliver actionable intelligence to our field commanders,” a defence spokesperson said. “Our U.S. partners remain in a strictly non-combat role, enabling operations led by Nigerian authorities.”
Military officials said the collaboration is helping security forces to better monitor and respond to emerging threats, particularly as insurgent groups continue to evolve their tactics and expand operations into new areas.
Recent attacks, including a suicide bombing in a garrison town in the north-east, underscore the persistent security challenges facing the country. Authorities say both Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters remain active and capable of launching high-profile assaults.
The United States previously maintained a large drone base in neighbouring Niger, but operations there ended in 2024 following the withdrawal of Western forces from parts of the Sahel.
