US troops withdrawal won’t weaken Nigeria’s war against terrorists – HQ

From Molly Kilete, Abuja

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has allayed fears over the planned withdrawal of about 200 United States military personnel from Nigeria, saying the development will not affect counterterrorism cooperation between Abuja and Washington.

The military described the planned drawdown as a routine adjustment linked to specific operational objectives, stressing that intelligence sharing, training, technical assistance and other forms of military cooperation between Nigeria and the United States would continue.

Director of Defence Information, Major-General Samaila Uba, gave the clarification yesterday while addressing journalists at the Joint Security Spokespersons’ Briefing in Abuja.

Uba said the withdrawal should not be interpreted as a breakdown or termination of the security partnership between the two countries, noting that the relationship remained strong and mutually beneficial.

“The Armed Forces of Nigeria wishes to clarify that the reported withdrawal of about 200 United States personnel should not be interpreted as a breakdown or termination of the Nigeria-United States security partnership,” he said.

According to him, the deployment of American military personnel to Nigeria was tied to specific operational and counterterrorism objectives, hence the decision to draw down some personnel was part of the evolving nature of the engagement.

“The relationship between both countries remains strong, enduring and mutually beneficial. The decision to draw down personnel is therefore part of the evolving nature of that engagement. Elements of the United States security partnership, particularly intelligence cooperation, training and information sharing, will continue,” he said.

The clarification came amid reports that the Pentagon was preparing to withdraw nearly 200 troops deployed to Nigeria earlier this year as part of an intensified counterterrorism partnership between both countries.

The personnel were deployed in February to provide training, intelligence and technical support to Nigerian forces battling Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and other terrorist groups.

Their deployment followed a sharp escalation in Nigeria-US security cooperation that began in late 2025 and subsequently included joint and US-supported counterterrorism operations.

In December 2025, the United States carried out strikes against suspected Islamic State targets in Sokoto State in cooperation with Nigerian authorities.

The partnership intensified in May when Nigerian and American forces conducted a major operation in the Lake Chad Basin that killed Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, described by US officials as one of the most senior figures in the global Islamic State network.

The operation was followed by further strikes and raids against militants, with American forces providing specialised intelligence and operational capabilities, while Nigerian forces participated in ground operations.

By July, US Africa Command (AFRICOM) Commander, General Dagvin Anderson, announced that most of the additional American forces deployed specifically for the Lake Chad operation had been withdrawn following the completion of their mission.

Anderson, however, said Washington would continue intelligence sharing and other security cooperation requested by Nigeria, describing the joint operation as a model for future US security partnerships in Africa.

The DHQ had, at the time, clarified that the personnel withdrawn were additional forces deployed for the specific Lake Chad operation and were separate from the approximately 200 US personnel deployed earlier for broader intelligence, training and technical cooperation.

The latest planned drawdown affects the broader contingent, although US military officials have indicated that smaller teams of trainers and intelligence personnel would remain in Nigeria as both countries continue their counterterrorism partnership.

Uba said the presence or withdrawal of foreign military personnel should not obscure the fact that the primary responsibility for Nigeria’s security rests with the country’s armed forces.

“The Armed Forces of Nigeria has consistently maintained that the responsibility for the defence of Nigeria and the protection of its citizens rests primarily with Nigerian security forces,” he said.

“Our cooperation with the United States is designed to strengthen our capabilities through intelligence sharing, training, technical assistance and other forms of professional military cooperation.”

The defence spokesman also said the partnership provided for direct operational collaboration whenever circumstances required it.

“Where it is jointly assessed that additional efforts, including joint strikes, are required, we do that,” he said.

According to Uba, the partnership had produced valuable results in the fight against terrorism and other transnational security threats.

“Indeed, the Nigeria-United States partnership has continued to produce valuable outcomes in the fight against terrorism and other transnational security threats,” he said.

Uba urged Nigerians not to interpret adjustments in the number of foreign military personnel in the country as evidence of declining cooperation or weakening of Nigeria’s defence capabilities.

“We equally call on the media and the Nigerian public to avoid interpreting a routine or mission-specific adjustment in foreign military presence as evidence of a collapse in Nigerian security cooperation or national defence capability,” he said.

He reiterated that the Nigeria-US security relationship remained intact, assuring that cooperation in areas of mutual interest would continue.