Five US military aircraft and the first batch of American troops have landed in northeast Nigeria, specifically in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital, ahead of a joint operation against ISWAP terrorists.
The New York Times reports that a US military aircraft touched down on Thursday night, with three aircraft visible at the base by Friday evening, unloading equipment.
The deployment involves around 200 US personnel, including intelligence analysts, advisers, and trainers, aiming to enhance Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts.
This move follows increased security partnership between the US and Nigeria, particularly after US President Donald Trump redesignated Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” over Christian genocide claims.
Counter-terrorism expert Brant Philip notes that the US Air Force cargo planes, including C-17A and C-130J-30, have been deployed to support Nigerian forces, potentially delivering MQ-9 Reaper drones, attack helicopters, and troops.
Maiduguri Airbase is likely to be the primary base for operations against ISWAP.
