News|ReligionUS deploys 100 soldiers to Nigeria as attacks by armed groups surgeThe US soldiers will not have a combat role and are to operate under the full command authority of Nigeria’s military.
The United States has deployed 100 military personnel to northern Nigeria to provide training and advisory support to local forces. This initiative aims to counter rising threats from armed groups such as Boko Haram and ISIL (ISIS)-linked factions.
The United States has deployed 100 military personnel to northern Nigeria to provide training and advisory support to local forces. This initiative aims to counter rising threats from armed groups such as Boko Haram and ISIL (ISIS)-linked factions.
Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters spokesman, Samaila Uba, confirmed the arrival of US troops in Bauchi, located in the northeastern region, on Mon, Feb 15, 2026.
The US personnel will offer technical support and intelligence sharing to enhance efforts in targeting and defeating terrorist organizations. Along with the troops, the US has also sent associated equipment to support the mission.
Uba emphasized that the US soldiers will not engage in direct combat. Instead, they will provide technical expertise while remaining under the full command authority of Nigerian forces.
The United States has deployed 100 military personnel to northern Nigeria to provide training and advisory support to local forces.
The Nigerian armed forces remain committed to degrading and defeating terrorist organizations that pose threats to the country's sovereignty, national security, and the safety of its citizens, according to the military spokesperson.
The deployment of US forces occurs amid ongoing challenges in Nigeria, where numerous local armed groups are active. This includes Boko Haram and its breakaway faction, the ISIL affiliate in West Africa Province (ISWAP), as well as ISIL-linked Lakurawa and other groups involved in kidnapping for ransom and illegal mining.
The situation has escalated with the involvement of fighters from the neighboring Sahel region, including Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin, which conducted its first attack on Nigerian soil last year.
According to United Nations data, several thousand people in Nigeria have been killed in these conflicts. Although Christians have been targeted, the majority of victims are Muslims, primarily in the northern regions where most attacks occur.
Nigeria's population of 240 million is evenly divided between Christians, predominantly in the south, and Muslims, largely in the north.
Based on reporting by Al Jazeera.
