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A former Army spokesman, Sani Usman, has said the deployment of United States military personnel is already strengthening Nigeria’s fight against insurgency, particularly in the North-East.
Speaking during an interview on Arise News, Usman described the collaboration as both timely and strategic, noting that intelligence sharing and surveillance support from the US have improved the effectiveness of Nigerian troops on the ground.
According to him, the partnership is beginning to yield results. “The expectation has started to be met… forces were able to take out four out of six henchmen of Boko Haram terrorists… brought about by the surveillance and intelligence provided by the United States,” he said.
He explained that, in the past, delays in intelligence transmission often undermined military operations.
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However, with US personnel now working more closely with Nigerian forces, that gap has been significantly reduced. “Before now, information would be sent to Washington and relayed back to Abuja… by then it had become stale,” he noted.
Beyond immediate gains, Usman stressed that tackling insurgency requires sustained cooperation, given the cross-border nature of threats such as terrorism, banditry and kidnapping. He added that the current support reflects broader global security concerns, not just Nigeria’s internal challenges.
Encouragingly, he pointed to signs of gradual recovery in affected areas, including the return of displaced persons and ongoing reconstruction efforts across parts of the North-East.
While concerns have been raised in some quarters about foreign military presence, Usman maintained that the US role appears limited to operational support. In his view, the collaboration remains a necessary step in consolidating recent gains and stabilising the region.
