Nigeria confirms departure of U.S. troops tied to security cooperation

Nigeria has confirmed that about 200 U.S. troops deployed to support its fight against insecurity are set to leave the country.

The deployment began in February, after tensions rose between Abuja and Washington over accusations of Christian genocide. According to the Nigerian government, the American personnel were sent to assist with training, intelligence gathering and a joint operation that led to the killing of a senior Islamic State figure.

Nigerian military spokesperson Samaila Uba said the long-running relationship between Nigeria and the United States remains strong and beneficial to both sides. He added that the American deployment was linked to specific operational and counterterrorism goals, and described the withdrawal as part of the broader engagement between the two countries. Uba also said some elements of the security partnership would continue.

Nigeria is confronting a severe security crisis, with jihadist groups and criminal gangs carrying out repeated attacks across the country. The unrest has expanded southward since President Bola Tinubu took office. Analysts say that despite the U.S. deployment and statements from U.S. President Donald Trump about the situation, there has been little visible change on the ground. Last week, dozens of people were kidnapped in central Nigeria.

Source: Africanews http://www.africanews.com/2026/09/02/nigeria-confirms-planned-withdrawal-of-us-troops-sent-to-help-tackle-insecurity-crisis/