The United States has withdrawn most of the military personnel it deployed to Nigeria for a joint counterterrorism operation in the Lake Chad Basin, saying the mission has been completed while reaffirming its commitment to intelligence sharing and broader security cooperation with Nigerian authorities.
The United States has scaled down its military presence in Nigeria following the conclusion of a joint counterterrorism mission in the Lake Chad Basin. Although most of the deployed American troops have returned home, Washington says it will continue supporting Nigeria through intelligence sharing, military cooperation and other security partnerships requested by the Nigerian government.
The development was disclosed by General Dagvin R. M. Anderson, Commander of the U.S. Air Forces in Europe–Air Forces Africa, during a virtual briefing on the outcome of the African Chiefs of Defence Conference 2026.
According to Anderson, the operation that required the deployment of U.S. personnel has now been successfully completed, making it possible for the majority of the troops assigned to the mission to withdraw from Nigeria.
He stressed, however, that the United States remains committed to supporting Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts through intelligence collaboration and other forms of military cooperation.
The joint operation formed part of ongoing efforts to combat extremist groups operating within the Lake Chad Basin, a region that has witnessed years of attacks by terrorist organisations including factions linked to the Islamic State and Boko Haram.
Anderson said the operation not only strengthened security in the immediate region but also disrupted wider terrorist networks beyond West Africa. He added that intelligence cooperation between both countries has produced significant operational gains against extremist groups.
The U.S. commander described Nigeria as a strategic security partner with capable armed forces and said future cooperation would increasingly focus on intelligence sharing, capacity building and other forms of military assistance rather than large-scale troop deployments.
He emphasised that the United States would continue providing support whenever requested by the Nigerian government as both countries deepen collaboration against terrorism and violent extremism.
While the withdrawal marks the end of the latest American troop deployment in Nigeria, both countries have indicated that their security partnership remains active. U.S. officials say intelligence cooperation and military collaboration will continue as Nigerian forces sustain operations against terrorist groups across the Lake Chad Basin and other affected areas.