U.S to boost Nigeria’s fight against terrorists with 200 more troops

Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja

The United States will deploy an additional 200 troops to Nigeria as part of efforts to boost Nigeria’s military’s efforts in the fight against Islamist terror groups.

The U.S official who revealed this added that the 200 troops will complement some U.S. military personnel already helping Nigerian troops in the fight against terrorists.

This revelation followed Nigeria’s Bola Tinubu’s meeting with the Commander of the U.S Africa Command (USAFRICOM), Gen. Dagvin Anderson, and his delegation at the State House, Abuja on Sunday February 9.

No statement was issued at the end of the meeting also attended by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Malam Nuhu Ribadu, and the Service Chiefs and the Charge d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria, Mr Keith Heffern.

But it was believed that discussions focused on strengthening Nigeria-U.S. relations, particularly in security cooperation and regional stability.

Also, the talks also reviewed ongoing efforts to address shared security challenges across Africa.

However, Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters (DHQ) had in a later statement said the visit of Anderson has further strengthened security cooperation between Nigeria and the United States.

The Director, Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. Samaila Uba, said in the statement that the visit provided an opportunity for both countries to deepen collaboration in countering terrorist organisations threatening Nigeria, the region and global security.

He noted that discussions during the meeting focused on shared security interests, military training, force development, real-world training opportunities and joint exercises, as well as specialised capabilities the United States can offer in support of Nigeria’s security efforts.

Uba said the AFRICOM commander also visited the joint US–Nigeria intelligence fusion cell, which enhances Nigeria’s intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capacity and enables real-time operational results.

He added that the visit reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to supporting Nigerian-led solutions through intelligence sharing and technical advisory assistance to strengthen Nigeria’s independent operational capability.

General Anderson had on 4 February revealed that the U.S has boosted support for Nigeria’s fight against terrorists with the deployment of a special force team in the country .

However, the AFRICOM Chief, however, did not elaborate further on the composition of the U.S. special team, which he said was already in the country.

The AFRICOM Commander who disclosed this during a digital news conference on Tuesday said the decision follows the talks he earlier held in Rome with President Bola Tinubu

He also confirmed that President Tinubu approved the Christmas Day U.S. airstrikes against Islamic State (ISIS) terrorists in Nigeria.

Anderson also revealed that he and Tinubu had agreed that both countries needed to coordinate their efforts in dealing decisively with the threat of terrorism in Nigeria and the ECOWAS sub-region.

“Our partnership with Nigeria is a great example of a very willing and capable partner, who requested the unique capabilities that only the U.S. can bring.

“We assist with some of the ISR, some of the intelligence fusion to bring that to bear together, and when we do that, we are much more effective to counter these threats.

“That has led to increased collaboration between our nations to include a small U.S. team that brings some unique capabilities from the United States in order to augment what Nigeria has been doing for several years,” he said.

Anderson stressed that wherever the U.S. finds a capable, willing partner to work with, like Nigeria, which can fuse the unique capabilities that U.S. brings, success was guaranteed in addressing terrorism threats.

“We’re looking at working in West Africa. I think a great example of that is the partnership we’ve had with Nigeria.

“My deputy was there just recently with a high-level delegation from the State Department, led by Allison Hooker, in order to look at how we can continue to move forward together,” he said.

He said that West Africa and the Sahel were currently facing a growing threat from terrorist groups like Daesh, al-Qaida, and JNIM.

“We’re seeing them apply more pressure in those areas, especially across the Sahel, threatening the capitals in the region, spilling down into some of the other (coastal) countries,” he said.

Just like the earlier deployment to Nigeria, Gen. Uba was quoted by Wall Street Journal as saying that the 200 American troops will not be involved in direct combat or operations in the country.

He also confirmed that the additional assistance was requested by Nigeria, likely during a recent visit by Gen. Dagvin Anderson, the Commander of U.S. Africa Command