By Clement Abayomi
The United States (US) has sent about 200 military personnel and several MQ-9 Reaper drones to Nigeria to provide intelligence and training support.
This deployment, reported by Reuters and confirmed by officials on Saturday, aims to help Nigerian forces track and respond to insurgent threats in the country’s northern region.
The mission is strictly limited to surveillance and advisory roles, meaning American troops will not participate in direct combat or carry out drone strikes.
Reuters reported that the deployment follows a formal request from the Nigerian government.
U.S. defense officials stated that the move is a collaborative effort to address shared security threats.
It was also emphasised that the American forces are there only to gather information and train local troops.
The Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, confirmed that the U.S. personnel are operating from an airfield in Bauchi State.
He explained that this partnership builds on a newly created intelligence center that provides useful data to Nigerian commanders on the ground.
Uba stressed that the U.S. partners are in a non-combat role, which allows Nigerian authorities to lead all military operations.
The MQ-9 Reaper drones being used are capable of flying for more than 27 hours at high altitudes.
Although these drones, as reported, can be armed, officials clarified that they are currently used only for monitoring and identifying terrorist activities.
This support is considered vital as extremist groups like Boko Haram continue to launch attacks in the northeast.
Military authorities noted that the U.S. and Nigeria will jointly decide how long this mission lasts.
The partnership demonstrates a focus on sharing intelligence to stop evolving threats.
This latest cooperation follows previous efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s ability to fight terrorism and protect its citizens through better training and technology.
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