Nigeria and the United States have commenced a renewed phase of military cooperation with the arrival of American advisory personnel and equipment in the country’s northeast, security sources confirmed on Friday.
According to a report by the three U.S. Air Force cargo aircraft have landed in Maiduguri, the operational hub of counter-insurgency efforts in Borno State.
The first aircraft reportedly arrived late Thursday, with additional planes touching down by Friday evening as personnel and equipment were offloaded.
The deployment, conveyed through C-17 strategic airlift missions, is part of a broader logistical movement supporting multiple locations across Nigeria, with further flights expected in the coming weeks.
Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters emphasised that the U.S. personnel will not be involved in frontline combat operations.
“The United States forces are not here to engage in combat operations,” said Major General Samaila Uba, spokesperson for the Defence Headquarters. “Their role is strictly advisory. Nigerian forces retain full command and will continue to lead all military operations.”
He added that the presence of U.S. personnel should be viewed within the context of long-standing bilateral cooperation.
“This deployment is about advisory support, base security, and strengthening operational coordination, not combat,” Uba said.
The initiative follows recommendations of a joint U.S.–Nigeria working group and is designed to enhance planning, secure communications, and operational infrastructure.
U.S. personnel are expected to operate primarily from command centres, supporting Nigerian units through technical and logistical expertise.
Security collaboration under the arrangement will focus on northern regions affected by jihadist violence, particularly areas impacted by Boko Haram, as well as parts of the Middle Belt experiencing recurring resource-driven clashes between pastoralist and farming communities.
The goal is to strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to address evolving security threats while fully respecting national sovereignty.
The current deployment builds on previous military cooperation between both countries, including intelligence sharing, targeted air support against extremist groups, and continued training of Nigerian special operations forces.