The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has confirmed the arrival of about 100 United States military personnel and equipment at Bauchi Airfield to support capacity-building efforts of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN).
In a statement issued by the Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, the deployment was described as a planned outcome of prior engagements between Nigerian and US officials during a bilateral working group meeting.
According to the DHQ, the presence of the US personnel follows a formal request by the Federal Government for targeted military training, technical assistance and intelligence-sharing support.
The collaboration, it said, is aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s operational capabilities in countering terrorist threats and enhancing the protection of vulnerable communities.
“It will provide access to specialised technical expertise intended to enhance deterrence and response effectiveness,” Uba stated.
He stressed that the US personnel are in Nigeria strictly in an advisory and training capacity and are not deployed as combat forces. All activities, he added, will be conducted under the authority and control of the Nigerian Government in close coordination with the AFN.
Nigerian troops are expected to participate in joint training exercises and intelligence-focused cooperation initiatives designed to improve operational planning, intelligence analysis and tactical proficiency in counter-terrorism operations.
The DHQ reaffirmed the Armed Forces’ commitment to degrading and ultimately defeating terrorist groups threatening Nigeria’s sovereignty and national security, assuring the public of continued transparency and timely updates on the military cooperation.
