Boost for Counter – terrorism as US military trainers arrive in Nigeria
Nigeria’s Military High Command has announced that about 100 United States (US) military personnel have arrived in Nigeria to support the country’s armed forces in training, technical assistance, and intelligence sharing.
The Director of Defence Information, Defence Headquarters (DHQ) Abuja, Major General Samaila Uba, confirmed this in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja.
Major General Uba said the American personnel and their equipment landed at Bauchi Airfield as part of an ongoing defence cooperation between Nigeria and the United States.
According to him, the deployment followed deliberations between Nigerian officials and their US counterparts during a bilateral working group engagement. The move, it said, was planned and deliberate, coming after a formal request by the Federal Government of Nigeria for support in meeting specific training and technical needs.
The collaboration is expected to provide Nigeria with access to specialised technical capabilities aimed at improving its capacity to deter terrorist threats and strengthen the protection of vulnerable communities nationwide.
The DHQ spokesman noted that the US personnel are technical specialists serving strictly in an advisory and training capacity and are not combat forces.
He added that all training activities would be carried out under the authority, direction, and control of the Nigerian Government, in close coordination with the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
With the arrival of the advisers, Nigerian troops are set to begin a series of joint training programmes and intelligence-focused cooperation initiatives. These engagements are designed to enhance the ability of troops to identify and neutralise extremist groups seeking to destabilise the country.
The military reaffirmed its commitment to degrading and defeating terrorist organisations that threaten Nigeria’s sovereignty, national security, and the safety of citizens.
The Defence Headquarters also assured Nigerians of continued transparency, pledging to provide clear, accurate, and timely information on all aspects of the military cooperation.
