The Defence Headquarters has stated that 200 United States troops assigned to joint intelligence and training missions in Nigeria are still present in the country. Major General Samaila Uba, the Director of Defence Information, explained that the personnel withdrawn from the Lake Chad Basin were a separate group brought in specifically for a short-term, mission-focused operation.
General Uba clarified that the core partnership between Nigeria and the United States continues without interruption. This statement follows reports from a foreign news agency suggesting a broader US troop withdrawal from Nigeria. According to General Uba, the confusion arose from comments by the Commander of US Air Forces in Africa, General Dagvin R.M. Anderson, which specifically addressed the conclusion of temporary forces involved in the Lake Chad mission.
General Anderson had previously noted that while the primary tactical operation concluded, the US remains committed to ongoing intelligence support. This collaboration recently contributed to the successful strike against a high-ranking ISIS leader. The Defence Headquarters emphasized that the bilateral effort to mitigate shared security threats persists, with provisions for specialized support available should future circumstances require it.