The United States has quietly expanded its security cooperation with Nigeria, deploying a number of MQ-9 surveillance drones alongside approximately 200 military personnel to support ongoing efforts against Islamist insurgent groups.
According to officials from both countries, the deployment is focused strictly on intelligence gathering and strategic support rather than direct combat. The American troops are not embedded with Nigerian frontline forces, and the drones are not being used to carry out airstrikes. Instead, their role is to monitor militant movements, track potential threats, and provide real-time intelligence to Nigerian authorities.
This latest move follows a shift in US military presence in West Africa after it shut down a major drone base in neighbouring Niger in 2024. That facility, which reportedly cost about $100 million to establish, had hosted nearly 1,000 US personnel and served as a key hub for surveillance operations across the Sahel region. Its closure came after Niger’s military-led government ordered American forces to leave the country, forcing Washington to reconsider its regional security strategy.
A US defence official explained that the decision to deploy assets to Nigeria was made at the request of the Nigerian government, highlighting the growing collaboration between both nations in tackling shared security challenges. The official noted that extremist groups operating in the region pose a mutual threat, making intelligence-sharing efforts critical.
On the Nigerian side, Major General Samaila Uba, Director of Defence Information at Defence Headquarters, confirmed that the US drones and personnel are currently operating from an airfield in Bauchi State, located in the country’s North-East—an area that has long been affected by insurgency.
He emphasized that the presence of US assets is part of a broader intelligence partnership, including the recently established US-Nigeria intelligence fusion cell. This initiative is designed to enhance coordination and provide actionable intelligence to Nigerian field commanders engaged in counterterrorism operations.
Uba reiterated that American personnel are playing a strictly supportive role, enabling Nigerian-led missions without direct involvement in combat. The collaboration, he said, is already strengthening operational effectiveness on the ground and improving the military’s ability to respond swiftly to emerging threats.
The development signals a renewed phase of US-Nigeria military cooperation, as both countries seek to contain the spread of insurgency and restore stability in the region.
