By Obinna Uballa
The United States has again deployed multiple MQ-9 Reaper drones and about 200 military personnel to Nigeria, deepening security cooperation as Abuja intensifies efforts to combat insurgency in the country’s troubled northern regions.
According to officials from both countries, the deployment is strictly limited to intelligence gathering, surveillance, and training support, with no American troops participating in frontline combat or conducting airstrikes.
“The U.S. military has multiple MQ-9 drones operating in Nigeria alongside 200 troops to provide training and intelligence support to the military,” U.S. and Nigerian officials told Reuters on Saturday.
The intervention, requested by Nigerian authorities, is aimed at strengthening the military’s ability to detect, monitor, and respond to terrorist threats, particularly from Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
A U.S. defence official described the mission as part of a shared security effort, emphasizing its non-combat nature. “We see this as a shared security threat,” the official said, noting that the focus remains on intelligence collection and advisory support.
Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters confirmed that U.S. personnel are operating from an airfield in Bauchi State, where they are supporting a newly established U.S.-Nigeria intelligence fusion cell.
Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, said the collaboration is already yielding results for field operations.
“This support builds on the newly established U.S.-Nigeria intelligence fusion cell, which continues to deliver actionable intelligence to our field commanders. Our U.S. partners remain in a strictly non-combat role, enabling operations led by Nigerian authorities,” he said.
The MQ-9 drones, known for their long-endurance capabilities of over 27 hours, are being used exclusively for surveillance missions despite their capacity to carry out precision strikes.
Uba added that the partnership is helping Nigerian forces better track and neutralize insurgent activities. “Our U.S. forces are helping Nigeria identify, track and respond to terrorist threats,” he said, without providing operational details.
The deployment comes against the backdrop of rising insecurity in Nigeria’s northeast and northwest. Recent attacks, including suicide bombings in a garrison town on March 16, have underscored the persistent threat posed by extremist groups seeking to assert relevance through high-profile violence.
Military authorities said the duration of the U.S. mission would be determined jointly by both governments, reflecting a flexible approach to evolving security challenges.
The latest move also follows earlier U.S. counterterrorism actions in Nigeria, including airstrikes carried out on Christmas Day under former President Donald Trump targeting ISIS-linked elements in the northwest.
In February, reports indicated that about 200 U.S. troops had been earmarked for deployment to Nigeria to enhance training and operational support, particularly in intelligence and counterterrorism strategy.
