The United States has sent approximately 200 troops to Nigeria to train the country’s military in combating Islamist militants, The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday.
An American military official told the newspaper that the deployment follows weeks after U.S. President Donald Trump criticized Nigeria for not adequately protecting Christians from terrorist attacks.
The report stated that the troops are expected to bolster Nigeria’s counterterrorism capabilities through training and operational support.
According to U.S. and Nigerian officials, the new personnel will complement a small contingent of U.S. military advisers already in the country, who help local forces with intelligence to identify targets for military operations.
Speaking during a virtual briefing last Tuesday, the Commander of the United States Africa Command, Gen Dagvin R. Anderson, confirmed increased collaboration between both countries following high-level engagements.
He said, “I was able to meet President Tinubu. We were able to share some thoughts and agree that we needed to work together on a way forward in the region.
“That has led to increased collaboration between our nations, including a small US team that brings unique capabilities from the United States to augment what Nigeria has been doing for several years.”