The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has confirmed the arrival of approximately 100 United States military personnel and accompanying equipment at the Bauchi Airfield in northern Nigeria, marking a significant step in ongoing security cooperation between both countries.
In a statement issued on Monday by Major General Samaila Uba, Director of Defence Information, the DHQ said the deployment followed deliberations at a bilateral working group engagement between a Nigerian delegation and its U.S. counterparts.
According to the statement, the presence of the U.S. personnel is “planned and deliberate,” stemming from a formal request by the Federal Government of Nigeria for support in clearly defined areas, including advanced military training, technical assistance, and intelligence sharing for members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
The collaboration, the DHQ noted, is designed to grant Nigerian forces access to specialised technical capabilities aimed at strengthening operational effectiveness, deterring terrorist threats, and improving the protection of vulnerable communities across the country.
The military high command clarified that the U.S. personnel are technical specialists serving strictly in advisory and training roles, not combat troops. All activities, it stressed, will be conducted under the authority, direction, and control of the Nigerian government, in close coordination with the Nigerian Armed Forces.
Nigerian troops are expected to commence a series of joint training exercises and intelligence-focused cooperation initiatives alongside the U.S. advisers. These engagements are intended to enhance the capacity of local forces to identify, disrupt, and neutralise extremist groups seeking to undermine national stability.
Reaffirming its commitment to national security, the Armed Forces of Nigeria said it remains resolute in degrading and defeating terrorist organisations threatening the country’s sovereignty and the safety of its citizens.
The DHQ assured the public of continued transparency and pledged to provide accurate and timely information regarding the evolving military cooperation.
