US Military Begins Troop Deployment in Maiduguri, Nigeria

By Adamu Aliyu Ngulde, Maiduguri

United States military aircraft have begun arriving in Maiduguri, signaling the launch of a new phase of security cooperation between the United States and Nigeria.

The deployment, which will involve roughly 200 American personnel, aims to provide advisory and technical support to Nigerian forces combating insurgent groups in the northeast.

A US military plane landed Thursday night at Maiduguri International Airport, with additional aircraft expected over the coming weekend. Officials confirmed that the C-17 transport planes are carrying intelligence analysts, trainers, advisers, and essential equipment to bolster operational capabilities in the region.

“This deployment is strictly advisory. Nigerian forces retain full command authority, make all operational decisions, and lead all missions on sovereign territory,” Maj. Gen. Samaila Uba, the Nigerian Defense Ministry spokesman, told reporters. He emphasized that the American personnel would not participate in combat operations.

The arrivals mark the continuation of heightened US military air activity in West Africa. Between February 6 and 14, six US Air Force cargo aircraft were tracked landing across the region, initially stopping in Accra, Ghana, before proceeding to Nigerian airbases. Open-source tracking indicates that Maiduguri Airbase will serve as a primary hub for supporting operations against the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), which maintains control over large rural areas of Borno State.

Analysts say the scale of the deployment and the aircraft used suggest heavy equipment, possibly including drones and attack helicopters, is being staged in Maiduguri.

The new personnel will join a small contingent of US advisers already operating in the country, expanding intelligence-sharing and joint planning capabilities in support of targeted counterterrorism missions.