The Defence Headquarters has announced the arrival of about 100 United States military personnel and associated equipment at Bauchi Airfield as part of ongoing defence cooperation between Nigeria and the United States.
This was announced in a statement issued on Monday by the Director of Defence Information, Samaila Uba, who said the deployment follows a recent security agreement between Nigeria and the US.
According to the statement, the arrival of the US military trainers followed a formal request by the Federal Government of Nigeria to Washington.
The deployment, Uba said, “is planned and deliberate following a formal request by the Federal Government of Nigeria to the US government to support a clearly defined military training requirement, technical support and intelligence sharing with the members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.”
The DHQ explained that the collaboration is aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture and improving the operational capacity of its troops.
“The collaboration will provide access to specialized technical capabilities aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s ability to deter terrorists threats and enhance the protection of vulnerable communities across the country,” the statement said.
It clarified that the US personnel are not combat troops but are in the country strictly in an advisory capacity.
“The US personnel are technical specialists serving strictly in an advisory and training capacity. They are not combat forces. All training activities will be conducted under the authority, direction and control of the Nigerian Government and in close coordination with the Nigerian Armed Forces,” the DHQ stated.
The statement further disclosed that Nigerian troops would begin joint activities with the US advisers as part of the cooperation framework.
“Nigerian troops, alongside these advisers, will commence a series of joint training engagements and intelligence focused cooperation initiatives. These activities are designed to enhance the capacity of Nigerian troops to effectively identify and neutralize extremist terrorist groups seeking to destabilize the nation,” it added.
Reaffirming its commitment to national security, the Armed Forces of Nigeria stressed its resolve to tackle insecurity across the country.
“The Armed Forces of Nigeria remain fully committed to degrading and defeating terrorist organizations that threaten the country’s sovereignty, national security and the safety of its citizens,” the statement said.
The Defence Headquarters also assured Nigerians of openness in its operations and communication.
“The DHQ assures Nigerians of continued transparency and the provision of clear, accurate and timely information regarding the military cooperation efforts.”
It would be recalled that the United States had promised to deploy 200 troops to provide training and technical support to Nigeria’s armed forces, with both governments stressing that the personnel will not participate in direct combat operations.
The deployment, confirmed last Tuesday by Nigerian and US officials, marks an expansion of military cooperation between Washington and Abuja as Nigeria continues its fight against insurgent and terror groups.
According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, the additional 200 troops will supplement a small US team already in Nigeria assisting with air strike targeting. The reinforcements are expected to arrive in the coming weeks and will focus on strengthening operational coordination between Nigerian forces.
The US personnel will provide “training and technical guidance,” including helping Nigerian counterparts better coordinate operations involving air strikes and ground troops simultaneously.
