The Pentagon has confirmed plans to deploy about 200 troops to Nigeria in the coming weeks to train the country’s military in counterterrorism operations.
A United States official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss operational matters, said the troops would reinforce a small team of US forces already in Nigeria assisting local soldiers with identifying potential terrorist targets using joint US and Nigerian intelligence.
The additional personnel will be stationed at various locations across the country to provide training and technical expertise, but will not participate in combat operations, the official added.
The impending deployment was first reported by The Wall Street Journal.
The move comes weeks after President Donald Trump criticised Nigeria for what he described as a failure to protect Christians from terrorist attacks, and threatened to intervene militarily over alleged “Christian genocide”.
Trump had also threatened to ensure that there are ” boots on ground” in Nigeria if the terrorist attacks continue.
On December 25, US Navy warships, aided by Nigerian intelligence, launched 16 Tomahawk missiles at targets in northwest Nigeria, which Trump described as the “terrorist scum” responsible for killing Nigerian Christians.
The missile strike, reportedly valued at about $32 million, followed sustained lobbying by Christian activists, Republican lawmakers and American public figures who urged Washington to intervene in Nigeria’s long-running security crisis.
The violence in Nigeria has involved clashes over land, kidnappings for ransom, sectarian tensions and insurgent attacks, with thousands of Muslims and Christians killed in recent years.
US military officials said the December strikes targeted Islamic State-affiliated terrorists, and that more than three dozen suspects were subsequently arrested by Nigerian authorities.
However, some residents in the affected areas reportedly said the missiles struck empty fields and abandoned militant hideouts.
The US Africa Command, led by General Dagvin R.M. Anderson, said it is working with Nigerian and regional partners to intensify counterterrorism cooperation against extremist groups, including Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province.
“Africa Command is working with our Nigerian and regional partners to increase counterterrorism cooperation efforts related to ongoing violence and threats against innocent lives,” Anderson said after the December strikes.
“Our goal is to protect Americans and disrupt violent extremist organisations wherever they are,” he added.