U.S. Deploys Special Forces to Nigeria, Deepens Counterterrorism Partnership

The United States government says it has strengthened its military cooperation with Nigeria following the deployment of a U.S. special forces team to support efforts aimed at flushing out terrorists in the country.

The Commander of the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), General Dagvin Anderson, disclosed this during a digital news conference on Tuesday. According to him, the move followed earlier discussions held in Rome with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who subsequently approved U.S. airstrikes carried out on Christmas Day against Islamic State (ISIS) targets in Nigeria.

General Anderson said both leaders agreed on the need for closer coordination between the two countries to decisively tackle terrorism in Nigeria and across the ECOWAS sub-region.

“Our partnership with Nigeria is a great example of a willing and capable partner that requested unique capabilities only the United States can provide,” he said. “We assist with intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, as well as intelligence fusion, and when we do this together, we are far more effective in countering these threats.”

He explained that the enhanced collaboration led to the deployment of a small U.S. team with specialised capabilities to complement Nigeria’s long-standing counterterrorism efforts.

Dailytrail news reports that the AFRICOM Chief did not provide details on the composition of the U.S. special team, which he confirmed is already operating in the country.

Anderson stressed that success against terrorism is achievable wherever the U.S. works with capable and committed partners such as Nigeria, noting that the fusion of U.S. capabilities with local efforts is critical.

“We’re looking at working across West Africa, and Nigeria is a prime example of that partnership,” he said, adding that his deputy recently visited Nigeria with a high-level U.S. State Department delegation led by Allison Hooker to further advance cooperation.

He warned that West Africa and the Sahel are facing an escalating threat from terrorist groups including Daesh, al-Qaida and Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM), noting increased pressure across the Sahel and the spillover of violence into coastal states.

Anderson said his recent tour of several West African countries along the Gulf of Guinea revealed shared regional concerns as terrorism continues to expand.

According to him, AFRICOM’s counterterrorism strategy is anchored on close coordination with African partner nations. “We will continue to engage willing partners to confront this common threat. Countering these dangers together has been, and remains, critical to our future,” he said.

Beyond West Africa, Anderson noted that AFRICOM continues to conduct counterterrorism operations across other parts of the continent. In Somalia, he said ISIS has emerged as a second major terrorist force alongside al-Shabab, which has dominated the insurgency landscape for over two decades.

He explained that ISIS fighters operating from remote mountainous areas in northern Somalia have been frequent targets of AFRICOM airstrikes. The campaign, supported by surveillance and logistics, has enabled Somali forces to significantly shrink ISIS-held territory and force its leadership underground.

The U.S. Air Force General also announced plans for the largest joint military exercise spanning Africa, Europe and the Middle East — African Lion 2026 — scheduled to hold in Morocco in May.

The exercise will involve 19 African nations, six European countries, and additional forces from the Middle East and Latin America, bringing participation to over 30 countries. Anderson said the exercise, which coincides with the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence, will showcase the depth of multilateral security cooperation across the continent.