The United States (US) has deployed multiple MQ-9 surveillance drones alongside about 200 troops to Nigeria to provide intelligence and training support to the Nigerian military amid escalating insurgent violence in the north.
US and Nigerian officials said the mission is limited to surveillance and advisory assistance, with no American personnel embedded in frontline units and no drone strikes authorised.
The deployment, reported on Saturday, was made at the request of Nigerian authorities to help identify, track and respond to terrorist threats.
A US defence official described the threat as a shared security challenge, stressing that the operation focuses strictly on intelligence collection and advisory support.
Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters confirmed that US forces are operating from the Bauchi airfield in the northeast.
Maj Gen Samaila Uba, director of defence information, said the effort builds on a newly established US–Nigeria intelligence fusion cell delivering actionable intelligence to field commanders.
“Our US partners remain in a strictly non-combat role, enabling operations led by Nigerian authorities,” Uba said.
The MQ-9 drones, often referred to as Reapers, can remain airborne for more than 27 hours and are capable of both intelligence-gathering and strike missions.
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Military officials clarified that the aircraft currently deployed are being used exclusively for surveillance.
The move comes as violence persists across Nigeria’s northeast and northwest.
On March 16, "suicide bombers" attacked a garrison town in the northeast.
Uba said the groups may seek opportunistic, high-visibility attacks to demonstrate relevance.
The Nigerian military said the duration of the US deployment will be determined jointly with American partners.
The latest deployment follows US airstrikes on Christmas Day, ordered under President Donald Trump, targeting ISIS-linked elements in northwest Nigeria.
Federal Government mentioned that those strikes formed part of a coordinated partnership with international allies.
In February, Washington had already sent roughly 200 troops to Nigeria to provide training and operational support.
US officials said the earlier deployment aimed to strengthen Nigeria’s counterterrorism capacity, particularly through training programmes and intelligence support.