US Withdraws Majority of Troops from Nigeria After Counterterrorism Mission

US Withdraws Majority of Troops from Nigeria After Counterterrorism Mission

The United States has withdrawn the majority of its military personnel deployed to Nigeria for a joint counterterrorism operation in the Lake Chad Basin, while reaffirming its commitment to intelligence sharing and broader security cooperation with Nigerian authorities.

The announcement was made by General Dagvin R.M. Anderson, Commander of the US Air Forces in Africa, during a virtual press briefing following the African Chiefs of Defence Conference 2026. He said the temporary deployment had achieved its operational objectives and demonstrated the effectiveness of intelligence-led partnerships in tackling terrorist threats across the region.

According to Anderson, the operation not only strengthened security in the Lake Chad Basin but also disrupted the wider ISIS (Daesh) network, delivering benefits beyond Nigeria and its neighbouring countries.

“That operation in the Lake Chad Basin of Nigeria not only helped the countries in that immediate region, but it also helps countries globally because it disrupted the ISIS network,” Anderson said.

He explained that although most of the troops deployed specifically for the operation have now been withdrawn, the US-Nigeria security partnership remains active through intelligence sharing, strategic planning and other specialised support requested by the Nigerian government.

“We have withdrawn much of our forces that were there for that operation, but we are continuing the partnership that Nigeria has asked for to help sustain the intelligence sharing and understanding necessary to prosecute these difficult tasks,” he added.

The deployment began in February 2026, when the United States sent about 200 military personnel to Nigeria to assist with intelligence, surveillance and counterterrorism operations targeting ISIS-linked extremist groups operating across the Lake Chad Basin.

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The move reflected growing security cooperation between both countries as they intensified efforts to counter insurgent activities in Nigeria’s North-East and neighbouring countries affected by cross-border terrorism.

General Anderson described Nigeria as one of the United States’ most important security partners in Africa, citing its capable military, strategic regional role and longstanding collaboration with Washington on counterterrorism initiatives.

He said intelligence cooperation between both countries had produced one of the most significant counterterrorism successes in recent years.

According to the US commander, months of intelligence gathering and operational coordination culminated in a joint operation in May 2026 that killed Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki, described by US and Nigerian officials as the second-highest-ranking leader in the global ISIS network.

Anderson said the extremist leader had overseen ISIS’s global operations, propaganda and recruitment activities, adding that the operation highlighted the value of combining Nigeria’s operational capabilities with specialised American intelligence support.

“The intelligence sharing eventually led to a cooperative effort where we were able to bring unique US capabilities and work with Nigeria to target the number two leader within ISIS or Daesh,” he said.

He noted that the success demonstrated why future US engagement in Africa would increasingly focus on providing specialised intelligence, surveillance, communications and analytical support rather than maintaining long-term troop deployments.

The US commander also urged African countries to deepen intelligence cooperation in tackling terrorism, organised crime and drug trafficking, arguing that cross-border security challenges require coordinated regional responses.

As an example, Anderson cited a recent multinational operation that intercepted a record 31-tonne shipment of cocaine travelling from South America along the West African coast.

He explained that intelligence shared among several countries enabled a Spanish naval vessel to intercept the shipment, describing it as the largest maritime drug seizure ever recorded.

Beyond terrorism, Anderson said stronger intelligence cooperation would help African countries combat organised crime, improve regional stability and create conditions that encourage economic growth and foreign investment.

The withdrawal comes months after US forces reportedly conducted precision air strikes on terrorist camps in Bauni Forest in Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State on December 25, 2025, targeting extremist fighters linked to ISIS and other armed groups.

Security analysts say those strikes, together with the February deployment and the successful operation against Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki, represent a significant expansion of US-Nigeria military cooperation in addressing extremist threats in the region.

Despite the troop withdrawal, US officials stressed that the mission was temporary and operation-specific, with no plans to establish a permanent American military base in Nigeria.

Nigerian authorities have also maintained that all counterterrorism operations remain under the command of the Nigerian Armed Forces, while international partners provide technical expertise, intelligence and logistical assistance.

The Lake Chad Basin, which spans parts of Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon, remains one of Africa’s most volatile security zones, with extremist groups continuing to exploit porous borders despite sustained military operations by regional forces.

While recent operations have disrupted several terrorist networks, security experts caution that insurgent groups retain the capacity to regroup and launch fresh attacks, making continued intelligence cooperation essential for long-term regional security.

General Anderson said sustained collaboration among African governments, international allies and private-sector partners would remain critical to countering terrorism, organised crime and other transnational threats while supporting peace, stability and economic development across the continent.

US Withdraws Majority of Troops from Nigeria After Counterterrorism Mission