Abuja, Nigeria – February 11, 2026 — The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) of Nigeria has officially clarified that the approximately 200 United States troops expected to deploy to the country in the coming weeks will be limited exclusively to training and advisory roles, with no involvement in combat operations. The statement underscores that Nigerian forces will maintain complete command authority and decision-making control over all security operations on national territory.
The clarification was provided by Maj-Gen Samaila Uba, the spokesperson for the DHQ, in an interview with Reuters. It directly addresses earlier comments from a U.S. official who disclosed the Pentagon’s plan to send the additional personnel to reinforce a small existing team already assisting Nigerian soldiers with intelligence and target identification in the fight against Islamist militants.
“These personnel do not serve in a combat capacity and will not assume a direct operational role,” Maj-Gen Uba stated. “Nigerian forces retain full command authority, make all operational decisions, and will lead all missions on Nigerian sovereign territory.”
The DHQ spokesperson further explained that the Nigerian government had formally requested the U.S. presence to deliver technical training and advisory support at various locations across the country. He declined to specify an exact arrival date for the troops but confirmed that the deployment forms part of longstanding cooperation under the framework of the US-Nigeria joint working group on security matters.
The announcement follows weeks of heightened attention on U.S.-Nigeria military relations, particularly after President Donald Trump—now in his second term—publicly criticised the Nigerian government for what he described as a failure to adequately protect Christian communities from Islamist militant attacks in the north-west. Trump had threatened direct military intervention if the violence continued and authorised a series of airstrikes on Christmas Day 2025, when U.S. Navy warships launched 16 Tomahawk missiles against what the administration identified as Islamic State-affiliated targets.
Last week, the U.S. military publicly confirmed the presence of a small team of American personnel already operating in Nigeria, marking Washington’s first official acknowledgement of troops on the ground since the December strikes. That disclosure, combined with the planned expansion to 200 additional troops, has fuelled speculation about the depth and nature of U.S. involvement in Nigeria’s counterterrorism campaign.
The DHQ’s latest statement appears designed to allay any concerns over sovereignty or foreign overreach. By emphasising that the U.S. personnel will operate strictly in non-combat, advisory capacities, Nigerian authorities are reinforcing the principle that operational control remains firmly in Nigerian hands.
Nigeria has consistently rejected accusations of systematic religious persecution, insisting that its security operations target armed groups indiscriminately, regardless of the faith of their victims. Official briefings have framed the violence in the north-west and other regions as driven by banditry, kidnapping syndicates, and Islamist insurgencies—including Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP)—rather than purely sectarian motives. Attacks have affected both Christian and Muslim communities, with thousands killed and millions displaced over the past decade.
The planned U.S. troop deployment has elicited mixed reactions. Supporters, including some faith-based advocacy groups and lawmakers in Washington, view it as a necessary step to bolster Nigeria’s capacity to combat extremist threats and protect vulnerable populations. Critics within Nigeria and the region have expressed apprehension about the potential for increased foreign military presence to complicate domestic security dynamics or infringe on national sovereignty.
The U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), which oversees American military activities on the continent, has described its engagement with Nigeria as part of a broader effort to enhance counterterrorism cooperation with regional partners. Following the Christmas Day strikes, AFRICOM Commander General Dagvin R.M. Anderson reiterated that the goal remains to disrupt violent extremist organisations and protect innocent lives, while working in close coordination with Nigerian authorities.
As preparations for the arrival of the additional U.S. personnel continue, both governments have emphasised the advisory and capacity-building nature of the mission. The deployment is expected to focus on specialised training in areas such as intelligence analysis, tactical operations, communications, and equipment maintenance—skills deemed critical to improving the Nigerian military’s effectiveness against persistent militant threats.
The exact locations where the troops will be stationed have not been publicly disclosed, though Maj-Gen Uba indicated they would be spread across multiple sites to maximise training reach. No changes to existing bilateral security agreements or protocols have been announced in connection with the deployment.
The development reflects a period of intensified diplomatic and military engagement between Abuja and Washington, driven in part by the Trump administration’s vocal stance on protecting religious minorities and combating Islamist extremism globally. For Nigeria, the partnership offers valuable technical support amid ongoing challenges, while the clear delineation of roles seeks to maintain national control over security operations.
As the first contingent prepares to deploy, close monitoring of the mission’s implementation and outcomes will be essential for both domestic confidence and international perceptions of the U.S.-Nigeria security relationship.
