Reports indicate that the first batch of the 200 United States (US) military personnel expected to be deployed to Nigeria to support ongoing counter-terrorism operations has arrived.
A Sahel security expert, Brant Philip, disclosed this in a post on his official X (Twitter) handle on Sunday, stating that the US troops are in Nigeria strictly for support roles, not combat.
What the US Troops Will Do
According to Philip, the US personnel will focus on:
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Training Nigerian forces
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Providing military advice
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Intelligence analysis
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Supporting logistics
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Ensuring the steady delivery of ammunition and equipment to the Nigerian Army
He added that the support may largely include munitions for the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).
US Aircraft Landing Points
Philip also revealed that additional US Air Force transport flights are expected to keep arriving in Nigeria through three locations, with two believed to be:
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Kainji Airbase
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Maiduguri Airbase (reportedly the main priority)
Maiduguri Confirmed Landing
We earlier reported that three US military aircraft landed at the Nigerian Air Force base in Maiduguri, Borno State, on Sunday.
Nigeria Insists It’s Not Combat Deployment
Philip noted that Nigerian officials have repeatedly stressed that the US troops are only in Nigeria to assist through training, advice and intelligence, not direct military engagement.
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