US Deploys 100 Soldiers to Nigeria Amid Rising Armed Group Attacks

US Military Personnel Arrive in Northern Nigeria for Training and Advisory Role

A group of 100 US military personnel has arrived in northern Nigeria to provide training and advisory support to local forces in the region. The troops will operate under the full command authority of Nigeria’s military, with a focus on providing technical expertise and intelligence sharing to help target and defeat terrorist organizations.

According to Samaila Uba, spokesman for Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters, the US personnel will not engage in direct combat operations but will instead share their knowledge and skills to support Nigerian forces. The deployment follows an easing of tensions between Washington and Abuja, which had flared late last year over concerns about human rights abuses.

The US military presence comes as Nigeria faces a growing threat from armed groups, including Boko Haram and its breakaway faction ISWAP, as well as other groups such as the ISIL affiliate in West Africa Province (ISWAP) and the Lakurawa. The conflict has resulted in significant loss of life, with thousands of people killed according to United Nations data.

The US military has previously launched air strikes against ISIL-affiliated fighters in Nigeria’s northwest, and a small team of US military officers was already present in the country, providing intelligence support. The deployment is part of an effort to build on this cooperation and provide additional support to Nigerian forces.

Source: Al Jazeera