The United States has deployed 100 soldiers to Nigeria to assist local troops amid escalating violence in the northern and northwestern regions of the country.
Nigeria has witnessed dozens of militant and bandit attacks since September 2025, with violence increasing significantly in recent months.
Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters spokesperson, Samalia Uba, confirmed the arrival of US forces in the northeastern area of Bauchi on Monday.
He stated that the US troops would provide “technical support” and “intelligence sharing” to help target and defeat “terrorist organisations”. The US has also sent “associated equipment” to support the mission.
Uba added that the US soldiers would not play a direct role in fighting militants and bandits but would share experience and technical expertise under the full command authority of Nigerian forces.
Nigerian forces have struggled to cope with the growing violence in Africa’s most populous country due to shortages of personnel, ground support, and aerial assistance during operations.
The spokesperson said, “The armed forces of Nigeria remain fully committed to degrading and defeating terrorist organisations that threaten the country’s sovereignty, national security, and the safety of its citizens.”
Last weekend, gunmen on motorcycles killed at least 46 people in three villages, with 38 of the victims either shot in the head or having their throats slit by the bandits.
The deployment comes at a time when US President Donald Trump has repeatedly accused Nigeria of allowing militants and bandits to conduct genocide against the Christian population — claims the Nigerian government has rejected.
Thousands of Nigerians have been killed in gun-related violence, according to United Nations data.
Nigeria’s 240 million people are evenly split between Christians, mainly in the south, and Muslims, mostly in the north.
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