The United States has withdrawn most of its military personnel deployed to Nigeria for a joint counterterrorism mission in the Lake Chad Basin, while maintaining intelligence sharing and other security cooperation with Nigerian authorities.
Commander of the US Air Forces in Africa, Dagvin R. M. Anderson, announced the development during a virtual briefing on the outcome of the African Chiefs of Defence Conference 2026. He said the partnership between Washington and Abuja remains active, particularly in intelligence operations targeting ISIS (Daesh).
According to Anderson, the mission that required the deployment of US troops has been completed, leading to the withdrawal of most personnel. However, he said the United States would continue providing intelligence support at the request of the Nigerian government.
He noted that the operation in the Lake Chad Basin not only strengthened regional security but also disrupted the global ISIS network. Anderson added that intelligence cooperation between the two countries had proved more effective than maintaining a prolonged foreign troop presence.
The US Air Forces commander described Nigeria as a capable regional partner with a strong military, saying intelligence collaboration enabled a joint operation that eliminated Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki, identified as the second-highest-ranking leader in the global ISIS network and a key figure responsible for the group’s international operations, media and recruitment.
Anderson said the success of the operation demonstrated the value of combining Nigeria’s military capabilities with specialised US intelligence support, adding that future cooperation would focus on providing unique capabilities that enhance the effectiveness of partner nations.
He also urged African countries to deepen intelligence cooperation to combat terrorism, drug trafficking and other transnational crimes. Anderson cited a recent multinational operation in which a Spanish vessel intercepted a record 31-tonne shipment of cocaine originating from South America and transiting through West Africa, describing it as the largest maritime drug seizure on record.
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 intensified efforts against ISIS and other extremist groups.
The security partnership achieved a major milestone in May 2026 when a joint US-Nigerian operation killed Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki during a raid on his hideout in Borno State.
