The planned US troop withdrawal from Nigeria will end a larger American military mission that officials say delivered intelligence and counterterrorism gains.
About 200 US troops deployed to northeastern Nigeria are expected to leave by late September. The mission began in February after President Donald Trump criticised Nigeria over attacks on Christians.
The deployment expanded an existing American military presence that supported Nigerian forces with intelligence aimed at identifying potential terrorist targets. According to The New York Times, the operation involved joint intelligence work, training and combat support.
The cooperation led to a May operation that killed Abu Bilal al-Minuki, whom US officials described as a senior Islamic State leader. US military officials also said more than 200 other militants died in later airstrikes and ground operations involving American and Nigerian forces.
The operations reportedly used MQ-9 Reaper drones and AC-130 gunships. However, the US troop withdrawal from Nigeria comes while deadly attacks continue in several parts of the country.
Recent violence has included the killing of more than two dozen people, including an imam, in northwestern Nigeria. At least 25 people were also killed in an attack on a village in central Nigeria. A major terrorist assault on a military base in northeastern Nigeria on Saturday further highlighted the continuing security challenges.
US Africa Command spokesperson Col. Becky Heyse described the mission as evidence that a limited American presence could deliver security benefits.
“Our recent joint efforts in Nigeria are a prime example of how this tailored, temporary footprint can yield significant security returns,” Heyse said.
The Nigerian military did not respond to requests for comment on the planned withdrawal, according to The New York Times. However, US officials said small teams of trainers and intelligence analysts would remain in Nigeria after the main contingent leaves.
The planned US troop withdrawal from Nigeria follows a period of stronger military cooperation between Washington and Abuja. Trump and President Bola Tinubu exchanged letters in July backing the security partnership. A senior Nigerian military delegation also met American military officials in Washington on 13 August to discuss shared security priorities.
The relationship changed significantly late last year after Trump threatened military intervention in Nigeria over what he described as the killing of Christians by terrorist groups. On Christmas Day, US warships, working with Nigerian intelligence, fired 16 Tomahawk missiles at targets in northwestern Nigeria.
The US later increased its military cooperation with Nigeria through additional intelligence and training support. In May, American and Nigerian forces conducted the operation that killed al-Minuki, whom Trump identified as a senior Islamic State figure.
Despite these operations, security analysts have warned that the withdrawal could create room for terrorist groups to rebuild if Nigeria cannot maintain the intelligence and operational capabilities developed during the partnership.
Nigerian security analyst Malik Samuel said recent military operations had achieved successes, particularly in the northeast, where Nigerian forces conducted targeted operations against Islamic State insurgents.
However, security analyst Kabir Adamu warned that reduced American intelligence support could allow terrorist groups to regroup and rebuild their networks.
The withdrawal will place greater responsibility on Nigerian security agencies to maintain intelligence gathering, targeted operations and coordination against terrorist groups. The remaining American personnel are expected to continue providing training and intelligence support, while Nigerian forces take primary responsibility for the long-term fight against insurgency and terrorism.
Do you think Nigeria can sustain the security gains made through increased US military cooperation?
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