Nigeria And US Forge Stronger Military Ties Following CPC Redesignation

New details have emerged about the growing military partnership between Nigeria and the United States, following a series of strategic engagements prompted by escalating security challenges and heightened international scrutiny.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The collaboration intensified after US President Donald Trump, in October, re-designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) over alleged persecution of Christians—a claim repeatedly denied by the Nigerian government.

A month later, Trump suggested sending US troops into Nigeria to “eliminate the terrorists targeting Christians,” sparking debates over sovereignty and international law. In response, President Bola Tinubu dispatched National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu to Washington for high-level talks with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Following the meeting, Hegseth confirmed that the US was “working aggressively” with Nigeria to combat jihadist-driven religious violence, though he did not disclose specific operational details.

Soon afterward, US contractor-operated surveillance flights began entering Nigerian airspace from Ghana. These flights preceded a Christmas Day missile strike on terrorist camps in Bauni Forest, Sokoto State, carried out using US drone technology—not the previously speculated Tomahawk cruise missiles.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the operation was the result of coordinated intelligence sharing and aligned with “established international practice and bilateral understanding.” Local residents in Sokoto and Kwara reported explosions, with the government later confirming that debris from US precision-guided munitions landed in Kwara.

Drone Refueling Station Proposed in Nigeria
Sources told TheCable that the US proposed a drone refueling station in Nigeria to extend surveillance and strike capabilities beyond Ghana. While Lagos and Abuja were initially considered, Nigeria selected a northeastern state already hosting domestic drone operations.

A senior government official clarified: “We will not have boots on the ground. US personnel will only support Nigeria through equipment, intelligence, or advisory roles—not in direct combat. This may include training, which is already underway.”

The station would allow US logistics teams to fly into Nigeria from Ghana to coordinate with Nigerian forces. On Tuesday, AFRICOM General Dagvin Anderson publicly confirmed the deployment of a “small team” of US troops to Nigeria—marking the first official acknowledgment of such a presence since the Christmas Day operation.

While this announcement generated debate, a Nigerian official explained that AFRICOM has long maintained a presence in the country, with the recent change reflecting an expanded scope of operations.

The new mandate, handled by the US 3rd Special Forces Group, includes unconventional warfare, counter-terrorism, special reconnaissance, foreign internal defense, information operations, and security force assistance.

Defence Minister Confirms Advisory Role
Defence Minister Christopher Musa confirmed US personnel are present but stressed they are not engaged in combat. “It’s a small advisory team supporting intelligence gathering and training,” Musa said, without revealing numbers, base locations, or deployment duration.

A government source added that the US team coordinated the Christmas Day airstrikes, signaling a deeper operational alignment between the two militaries. Bilateral discussions between NSA Ribadu and US Under-Secretary of State Allison Hooker are ongoing to further define the scope of Nigeria-US military collaboration in countering terrorism.