The United States has deployed several MQ-9 drones along with about 200 troops to Nigeria to assist in the fight against Islamist militants, according to US and Nigerian officials who spoke with Reuters.
US officials clarified that the troops are not embedded with Nigerian frontline forces, while the drones are being used strictly for intelligence gathering and are not involved in airstrikes.
Previously, the US military operated a $100 million drone base in neighbouring Niger Republic, where around 1,000 personnel monitored militant activities across the Sahel region.
That facility, however, was shut down in 2024 after Niger’s military authorities directed US forces to withdraw.
A US defence official explained that the drones and troops were deployed at Nigeria’s request, mainly to enhance intelligence operations.
“We see this as a shared security threat,” the official told Reuters.
Major General Samaila Uba, Director of Defence Information at Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters, confirmed that the US assets are being operated from the Bauchi airfield in the North-East.
“This support builds on the newly established US-Nigeria intelligence fusion cell, which continues to deliver actionable intelligence to our field commanders,” he told Reuters.
“Our US partners remain in a strictly non-combat role, enabling operations led by Nigerian authorities.”
