The United States (US) of America has announced the withdrawal of most of its military personnel deployed to support counterterrorism operations in Nigeria’s Lake Chad Basin region.
The Commander of US Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa, Dagvin R. M. Anderson, disclosed this during a press briefing on the outcome of the African Chiefs of Defence Conference 2026.
According to reports, the United States deployed about 200 military personnel to Nigeria in February 2026 to assist with intelligence gathering, surveillance and counterterrorism operations targeting ISIS and other extremist groups operating within the Lake Chad Basin.
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The deployment formed part of growing security cooperation between Washington and Abuja amid renewed efforts to combat insurgency and transnational terrorism in the region.
The operation also followed the redesignation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern by US President Donald Trump, who pledged increased American support for Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts.
The security partnership between both countries intensified after US air strikes reportedly targeted terrorist enclaves in the Bauni Forest area of Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State on December 25, 2025.
The joint intelligence cooperation later contributed to the killing of Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki, identified as the second-in-command of the global ISIS network, during an operation in Borno.
Speaking at the conference, General Anderson described the operation as a successful example of cooperation between the US and Nigeria in tackling terrorism.
“And so that operation in the Lake Chad Basin of Nigeria not only helped the countries in that immediate region; it also helps countries globally as that disrupts the ISIS network,” he stated.
He added that although much of the US force deployed for the mission had now returned to Washington, intelligence cooperation and strategic partnership with Nigeria would continue.
“And then we have withdrawn much of our forces that were just there for that operation, but are continuing the partnership that Nigeria has asked for to help continue with the intelligence sharing and the understanding that’s necessary to be able to prosecute these difficult tasks,” Anderson said.
The US military commander described Nigeria as a strong and capable partner with a large economy, educated population and professional military structure.
According to him, the collaboration demonstrated how the US could support allies by providing unique intelligence and operational capabilities needed to combat global terrorist networks.
He explained that US intelligence support combined with Nigerian military operations played a major role in tracking and eliminating senior ISIS leadership figures responsible for global recruitment, propaganda and operational coordination.
“I think the partnership that we’ve shown recently with Nigeria, where Nigeria’s a very capable and large country — it’s got a strong economy; it’s got a large, educated population; it’s got a very capable military,” he said.
He further noted that the US intends to continue supporting African partners through intelligence sharing and technical cooperation aimed at strengthening regional security.
General Anderson also called for stronger intelligence collaboration among African countries to tackle terrorism, illicit trafficking and transnational organized crimes.
According to him, recent intelligence cooperation among international partners contributed to the interception of a record 31-ton cocaine shipment originating from South America and transiting through the West African coast.
“I was able to coordinate through our interagency in the United States, through AFRICOM, and then notify some of the partners. Eventually it was a Spanish ship that interdicted the ship that had 31 tons of cocaine on it,” he said.
The US official stressed that sustained cooperation between African governments, international partners and the private sector would remain vital in addressing security threats, improving stability and promoting investment opportunities across the continent.
Security analysts say the withdrawal of most US troops from Nigeria may signal the end of a temporary operational phase while maintaining long-term intelligence and strategic cooperation between both countries in the fight against terrorism.