The United States has withdrawn most of its military personnel deployed to Nigeria for a joint counterterrorism mission in the Lake Chad Basin, while reaffirming its commitment to intelligence sharing and broader security cooperation with Nigerian authorities.
The Commander of the U.S. Air Forces in Africa, General Dagvin R.M. Anderson, disclosed this during a virtual press briefing on the outcome of the African Chiefs of Defence Conference 2026.
He said although the specific mission that necessitated the deployment had been concluded, the partnership between Washington and Abuja remains active, particularly in intelligence operations targeting the Islamic State (ISIS/Daesh).
According to Anderson, the withdrawal followed the successful completion of the operation in the Lake Chad Basin, but the United States would continue providing intelligence support at the request of the Nigerian government.
“The operation in the Lake Chad Basin not only helped countries in that immediate region, it also contributed to global security by disrupting the ISIS network,” Anderson said.
“We have withdrawn much of the force that was deployed specifically for that mission, but we are continuing the partnership Nigeria requested, particularly in intelligence sharing and the situational awareness needed to prosecute these difficult operations.”
The U.S. Air Force commander described Nigeria as a key regional partner with a capable military, noting that cooperation between both countries has yielded significant successes in the fight against ISIS.
He credited intelligence collaboration between the two nations with enabling a joint operation that eliminated the second-highest-ranking leader in the global ISIS network.
“Nigeria is a large and capable country with a strong economy, a well-educated population and a professional military,” Anderson said.
“There are lessons we have learned over years of counterterrorism operations, and we have been able to integrate those capabilities with Nigeria’s efforts. Through intelligence sharing and unique U.S. capabilities, we jointly carried out the operation that neutralised the number two leader of ISIS, who was responsible for much of the group’s global operations, media activities and recruitment.”
According to him, the operation demonstrates the value of intelligence cooperation over prolonged foreign troop deployments.
“Going forward, this is the model we intend to pursue—helping partners become more effective by providing specialised U.S. capabilities while allowing them to lead operations within their own countries,” he said.
Anderson also called for stronger intelligence cooperation among African countries to combat terrorism, drug trafficking and other transnational crimes.
He cited a recent multinational operation that intercepted a record 31-tonne shipment of cocaine originating from South America and transiting the West African coastline, saying the seizure was made possible through effective intelligence sharing.
“Working through U.S. interagency partners and AFRICOM, we shared intelligence with regional partners. A Spanish vessel eventually intercepted the ship carrying 31 tonnes of cocaine—the largest maritime drug seizure ever recorded,” he said.
He stressed that sustained collaboration among African governments, international allies and private-sector stakeholders would be critical to addressing evolving security threats while promoting economic growth and attracting investment across the continent.
The United States deployed about 200 military personnel to Nigeria in February 2026 to support intelligence, surveillance and counterterrorism operations in the Lake Chad Basin as both countries expanded cooperation against ISIS and other extremist groups operating in the region.
The deployment followed U.S. President Donald Trump’s redesignation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern and his administration’s pledge to strengthen American support for Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts.
On December 25, 2025, U.S. forces carried out airstrikes on two terrorist camps in the Bauni Forest in Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
The bilateral security partnership reached a major milestone in May 2026, when a joint U.S.-Nigerian operation killed Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki, the second-in-command of ISIS, during a raid on his hideout in Borno State.