By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Correspondent
THE FEDERAL government clarified that United States (US) military personnel in Nigeria are non-combat advisers providing intelligence and training support at its request, Defence Minister Rtd Gen Christopher Musa said.
JKNewsMedia.com reports that the statement followed an announcement by the United States Africa Command confirming the deployment of a small team of American personnel to Nigeria.
AFRICOM Commander General Dagvin Anderson said the deployment was at Nigeria’s request and focused on intelligence assistance.
“Our partnership with Nigeria is a great example of a willing and capable ally that requested unique capabilities only the United States can provide,” Anderson said.
Addressing public concerns over sovereignty, Gen Musa said the US personnel were not combat troops but a small advisory team supporting intelligence gathering and training initiatives.
He did not provide details on the team’s size, arrival date, location, or duration.
On December 25, 2025, the US military, in collaboration with the Armed Forces of Nigeria, conducted air interdiction operations across multiple locations in the North-West and North-Central regions as part of international cooperation against terrorism and violent extremism.
Also, the All Progressives Congress (APC) said the cooperation does not compromise national independence.
Party National Publicity Secretary Mr Felix Morka told Arise TV that US support poses no threat to Nigeria’s sovereignty.
“What we know is that the US government and Nigerian authorities are working very closely to defeat terrorism in our country,” he said.
“Terrorism has brought immense pain and suffering to our people, with innocent citizens killed senselessly by these violent actors.”
Morka added that President Bola Tinubu remains resolute in taking all measures to eliminate terrorist threats and restore security.
He dismissed suggestions of foreign intervention, saying the collaboration is fully coordinated between the two governments.
“Whatever is agreed at the table is what will be implemented,” he said, emphasising that the priority remains protecting Nigerian lives and defeating terrorist groups.
Meanwhile, Umar Bio Salihu, head of Woro village in Kwara State, reported that armed bandits attacked his community for nearly 10 hours before security forces arrived, leaving scores dead and villages destroyed.
Speaking to Arise News, he said distress calls began around 5:00pm, but soldiers only arrived at 3:00am.
“The military did not attack them. The bandits had gone when the military came,” he said, adding that no air interdiction took place.
Salihu said the area had been left vulnerable after soldiers previously stationed there were withdrawn following an earlier attack.
He identified the attackers as members of the Mamuda terrorist group, saying the violence followed the community’s rejection of their ideology.
“The people they killed are mostly Muslims. About 95 per cent are Muslims and five per cent are Christians,” he said.
He disclosed that at least 75 people had been buried, with more bodies still being recovered, and that entire villages, including his own home, were burned.
Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq visited the affected communities and ordered immediate security deployment. “About 15 soldiers were deployed, and there are now about 80 security agents there,” Salihu said.
Meta description: US troops in Nigeria provide advisory intelligence and training support, not combat roles, amid counter-terrorism cooperation and local security concerns.
