US Military Confirms Troop Withdrawal from Nigeria
The United States military has pulled out most of its troops from Nigeria following the conclusion of a joint counterterrorism operation in the Lake Chad Basin, a senior American general confirmed. General Dagvin R.M. Anderson, Commander of US Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa, disclosed this at a press briefing held on the sidelines of the African Chiefs of Defence Conference 2026.
He said the operation had formally ended and the majority of the approximately 200 US military personnel deployed since February had returned to Washington DC, though intelligence-sharing arrangements with Nigeria would continue at Abuja's request, according to Daily Trust.
"We have withdrawn much of our forces that were just there for that operation, but are continuing the partnership that Nigeria has asked for to help continue with the intelligence sharing and the understanding that's necessary to be able to prosecute these difficult tasks," Anderson said.
Operation Targeted ISIS Leadership
The deployment had been part of a broader US-Nigeria security partnership aimed at dismantling ISIS and other terrorist networks active in the region. It followed the redesignation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern by President Donald Trump, who pledged intensified American support against terrorist groups operating in the country.
A significant outcome of the cooperation was the killing of Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki, the second-in-command of the ISIS global network, at a hideout in Borno State. Anderson described the operation as a demonstration of what targeted intelligence support could achieve when combined with a capable local military force, as reported by Vanguard.
"Nigeria's a very capable and large country, it's got a strong economy; it's got a large, educated population; it's got a very capable military. But there are things that we have learned in the counterterrorist fight over several years that we were able to assist and integrate with them," Anderson said.
He added that the combined effort allowed US forces to bring "unique capabilities" that ultimately enabled the prosecution of the ISIS number two leader responsible for the group's global operations, media, and recruiting.
US Air Strikes in Sokoto State
On December 25, US forces conducted air strikes on two terrorist enclaves in the Bauni Forest in Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State, marking one of the most visible military actions of the partnership.
Record Drug Seizure Along West African Coast
Anderson also highlighted a significant counter-narcotics success tied to the same regional cooperation. He said coordinated intelligence sharing between the US interagency, AFRICOM, and regional partners led to the interception of 31 tonnes of cocaine aboard a vessel transiting the West African coast from South America.
"It turns out is the largest interdiction of drugs at sea that we've ever seen," Anderson said, noting that a Spanish ship ultimately carried out the seizure.
The general called for stronger and more sustained intelligence sharing among African nations to address terrorism, illicit trafficking and other transnational threats, arguing that such partnerships were essential to long-term stability and economic investment across the continent.
