About 100 US military personnel have arrived at Bauchi airfield under a new security cooperation deal between Nigeria and the United States.
In a statement on Monday, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) confirmed that the deployment follows a recent bilateral security agreement between Nigeria and the US government.
According to DHQ spokesperson Samaila Uba, the Federal Government formally requested US assistance in military training, technical support and intelligence sharing for members of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
He stressed that the US personnel are technical specialists serving strictly in advisory and training roles not combat troops.
“The collaboration will provide access to specialised technical capabilities aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s ability to deter terrorist threats and enhance the protection of vulnerable communities across the country,” the statement said.
Uba clarified that all training activities will operate under the authority and control of the Federal Government, in close coordination with the Nigerian military.
Joint Training to Begin
In the coming days, Nigerian troops will begin a series of joint training exercises and intelligence-focused cooperation initiatives with the US team.
The DHQ said the programme is designed to strengthen the military’s capacity to identify and neutralise extremist groups seeking to destabilise the country.
The armed forces reaffirmed their commitment to defeating terrorist organisations threatening Nigeria’s sovereignty and national security.
Authorities also assured Nigerians of transparency and timely updates regarding the military cooperation effort.
