The United States has withdrawn most of the military personnel it deployed to Nigeria for a joint counterterrorism operation in the Lake Chad Basin, while reaffirming its commitment to continue intelligence sharing and other security cooperation with Nigerian authorities.
The announcement was made by the Commander of the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), General Dagvin Anderson, during a virtual briefing following the 2026 African Chiefs of Defence Conference held in Luanda, Angola.
According to Anderson, the deployment was tied to a specific counterterrorism mission that has now concluded.
“We have withdrawn much of our forces that were just there for that operation, but we are continuing the partnership that Nigeria has requested to help with intelligence sharing and the understanding necessary to prosecute these difficult tasks,” he said.
Intelligence Cooperation Will Continue
Although the majority of U.S. personnel have left Nigeria, Washington emphasized that military cooperation between both countries remains active. Intelligence sharing, surveillance support, and strategic collaboration will continue to assist Nigerian security forces in combating extremist groups operating in the northeast and the wider Lake Chad region.
General Anderson praised the Nigerian Armed Forces as a capable security partner, noting that recent joint operations had produced significant successes against terrorist organizations, including ISIS-linked militants.
Mission Focused on Counterterrorism
The U.S. deployment began earlier in 2026 after Nigeria requested technical assistance and military advisers to strengthen its fight against insurgent groups. Around 200 American personnel were sent to provide training, intelligence, and advisory support, with Nigerian authorities stressing from the outset that the troops would not participate in combat operations or take command of military missions.
The deployment formed part of broader security cooperation aimed at weakening terrorist groups operating across the Lake Chad Basin.
Key Highlights
- The U.S. has withdrawn most troops deployed for a counterterrorism mission in Nigeria.
- The withdrawal follows the completion of the specific military operation.
- Intelligence sharing and other security cooperation between both countries will continue.
- Nigerian forces remain fully responsible for combat and operational decisions.
- U.S. officials described Nigeria as a key partner in the fight against terrorism.
The Story in Nigerian Pidgin
US Don Withdraw Most Soldiers Wey Dem Send Come Nigeria
United States don withdraw most of the soldiers wey dem send come Nigeria for joint operation against terrorists for the Lake Chad area. But dem talk say the partnership with Nigeria never end.
According to the head of AFRICOM, the operation don finish, so plenty of the American soldiers don return home. Even so, America go still help Nigeria with intelligence sharing, security advice and other support to continue the fight against terrorist groups.
The U.S. also praise the Nigerian military, saying both countries don achieve important results together against extremist groups, while Nigerian soldiers remain fully in charge of all military operations inside the country.
