U.S. Confirms Deployment of Military Personnel to Nigeria to Support Counter-Terrorism Efforts
The United States has confirmed the deployment of a small team of military personnel to Nigeria, marking the first official acknowledgment of U.S. forces being stationed in the country to assist with escalating security concerns.
General Dagvin R.M. Anderson, head of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), stated that the deployment followed his meeting with Nigerian President Bola Tinubu in Rome late last year. The decision was made after both nations agreed on the need for enhanced efforts to combat the growing terrorist threats in West Africa.
The U.S. military team, which brings specialized capabilities in intelligence and planning, is expected to bolster Nigeria’s ongoing counterterrorism operations. “This increased collaboration includes a small U.S. team offering unique capabilities to support Nigeria’s efforts,” General Anderson said in a press briefing on Tuesday.
While the exact arrival date of the team remains unclear, their primary role is to augment Nigeria's counter-extremism strategy. This deployment follows a U.S. airstrike on December 25, targeting an Islamic State-affiliated group in the region.
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