Insecurity: US deploys drones, 200 troops to support Nigeria on

The United States has sent several MQ-9 drones and about 200 troops to Nigeria to help fight Islamist militants, according to US and Nigerian officials who spoke to Reuters.

The US officials explained that their soldiers are not fighting on the frontlines with Nigerian troops. Instead, the drones are only being used to gather information and are not carrying out airstrikes.

Previously, the US operated a drone base worth about $100 million in neighbouring Niger Republic, where around 1,000 troops monitored militant activities across the Sahel region. However, the base was shut down in 2024 after Niger’s military government asked US forces to leave.

A US defence official said the drones and troops were sent to Nigeria at the country’s request, mainly to support intelligence gathering.

“We see this as a shared security threat,” the official said.

Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters also confirmed the development. Major General Samaila Uba, Director of Defence Information, said the US equipment is being operated from an airfield in Bauchi State in the North-East.

He added that the support is part of a joint US-Nigeria intelligence effort that provides useful information to Nigerian military commanders in the field.

According to him, US personnel are not involved in combat but are only supporting Nigerian-led operations.