U.S. Deploys Special Forces in Nigeria Against Terrorists

The United States has deployed a special operations team to Nigeria to support the country’s counterterrorism operations, a move formalized following high-level discussions between the two governments. General Dagvin Anderson, Commander of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), announced the deployment during a digital press briefing, stating the team is already in country.

The decision follows meetings in Rome between Anderson and Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who had previously authorized U.S. airstrikes against Islamic State (ISIS) militants on Christmas Day. Anderson explained that both nations agreed on the necessity of coordinated action against terrorism in Nigeria and the broader Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) region.

“Our partnership with Nigeria is a great example of a very willing and capable partner, who requested the unique capabilities that only the U.S. can bring,” Anderson said. He specified the U.S. contribution includes intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) support and intelligence fusion to enhance Nigerian forces’ effectiveness. “That has led to increased collaboration… to include a small U.S. team that brings some unique capabilities… in order to augment what Nigeria has been doing for several years.”

The general did not detail the team’s composition but emphasized the model of cooperation with a willing partner. He noted that terrorist groups, including ISIS, al-Qaida affiliates, and Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM), are expanding pressure across the Sahel, threatening regional capitals and spilling toward coastal states. Anderson, who recently visited Gulf of Guinea nations, affirmed AFRICOM’s strategy focuses on supporting “willing partners” to address this common threat.

The partnership with Nigeria is part of a wider AFRICOM counterterrorism approach. Anderson highlighted the long-term campaign in Somalia, where U.S. airstrikes and support have enabled Somali forces to pressure ISIS-Somalia and al-Shabab, effectively collapsing the territory once held by ISIS and forcing its leadership underground.

In a separate announcement, Anderson revealed that AFRICOM will host ‘African Lion 2026,’ the largest joint military exercise spanning Africa, Europe, and the Middle East, in Morocco next May. The drill is expected to include over 30 nations from three continents, coinciding with the U.S. 250th independence anniversary. He framed the event as a demonstration of multilateral security cooperation at a continental level.

The deployment and upcoming exercises underscore a deepening of U.S. security engagement in West Africa, framed as a collaborative response to escalating terrorist threats. The focus remains on enabling partner nation capabilities through targeted U.S. support, with Nigeria positioned as a key ally in the region.