DHQ confirms arrival of 100 US military personnel in Nigeria

Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters has confirmed that approximately 100 United States military personnel, along with equipment, have arrived in the country to support the Armed Forces of Nigeria in capacity-building efforts.

In a statement issued on Monday, the Defence Headquarters said the U.S. trainers landed at the Bauchi Airfield under a bilateral defence cooperation agreement between Nigeria and the United States. The deployment followed a formal request by the Federal Government.

According to the military high command, the arrangement was finalised during a joint working group meeting between Nigerian and U.S. defence officials. Discussions at the meeting focused on addressing identified training gaps, technical assistance needs, and intelligence-sharing challenges within the Armed Forces.

The DHQ clarified that the visiting American personnel are technical experts assigned strictly to advisory and training roles. It stressed that they will not participate in combat operations.

Authorities further stated that all activities related to the training programme will be carried out under the supervision, authority, and control of the Nigerian Government, in collaboration with the nation’s military leadership.

The partnership is expected to grant Nigerian troops access to specialised technical expertise designed to enhance their operational effectiveness, improve intelligence coordination, and strengthen efforts to counter terrorist threats while safeguarding vulnerable communities.

The DHQ added that joint training exercises and intelligence-driven cooperation initiatives will begin immediately as part of broader efforts to improve the military’s ability to detect and neutralise extremist elements.

Reaffirming its resolve, the Defence Headquarters pledged that the Armed Forces of Nigeria remain committed to dismantling terrorist networks and defending the country’s sovereignty.

It also assured Nigerians of transparency throughout the collaboration and promised timely updates on developments.