US Military Jets Arrive in Nigeria with Troops and Weapons for Advisory Role
Three United States military aircraft transporting troops and weapons have reportedly arrived in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State in northeastern Nigeria. According to the New York Times, the first plane landed in the city on Thursday night, with officials from both nations indicating that an initial batch of roughly 100 US troops is set to arrive over the weekend.
By Friday evening, three planes had been confirmed to have touched down in Maiduguri, with equipment being actively offloaded from one of the aircraft. A US Defence Department official, speaking anonymously due to the sensitive nature of operational details, revealed to the newspaper that these arrivals signify the commencement of C-17 cargo plane missions destined for three distinct sites across Nigeria.
Non-Combat Advisory Deployment
The spokesperson for Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters, Major General Samaila Uba, has clarified that the US troops will not participate in combat operations. In statements to the Wall Street Journal and The New York Times, Mr. Uba emphasized, “These personnel do not serve in a combat capacity and will not assume a direct operational role.” He further asserted that Nigerian forces maintain full command authority, make all operational decisions, and will lead all missions on Nigerian sovereign territory.
Mr. Uba explained that this deployment results from recommendations made by a US-Nigeria joint working group, with the forces serving in an advisory capacity at multiple locations. More aircraft carrying personnel and equipment are scheduled to arrive this weekend, with additional flights planned over the coming weeks, according to the anonymous US official.
Background and Context
This military movement follows months of increasing pressure from former President Donald Trump, who has strongly criticized Nigeria’s government for what he describes as its failure to adequately protect Christians from deadly attacks by Islamist militants and armed groups. The deployment underscores ongoing security collaborations between the two nations aimed at addressing regional instability.
The arrival of US troops and equipment highlights a strategic partnership focused on enhancing Nigeria’s security capabilities through training and advisory support, rather than direct combat involvement. This development is part of broader efforts to bolster counterterrorism operations in the region, with Nigerian authorities retaining ultimate control over all military activities within their borders.
