US sends drones to Nigeria to join troops sent for intelligence and training

The United States has deployed sophisticated MQ-9 Reaper drones to Nigeria as part of an expanding security partnership aimed at combating the country’s growing insurgency crisis, according to a U.S. defense official.

The deployment follows the arrival of approximately 200 U.S. troops in Nigeria last month. These forces are stationed at Bauchi Airfield, a newly constructed facility in the northeastern region of the country, where they will provide training, intelligence support, and advisory assistance to Nigerian Armed Forces.

The MQ-9 Reaper drones, which cost approximately $30 million each, are renowned for their extensive capabilities. They can maintain flight at altitudes exceeding 40,000 feet and remain airborne for more than 30 hours at a stretch. While these unmanned aircraft have been used for both surveillance and strike operations in conflict zones such as Afghanistan, Iraq, and Yemen, AFRICOM officials emphasized that their role in Nigeria will be strictly limited to intelligence gathering and training activities.

“Our personnel are working alongside their Nigerian counterparts to provide intelligence support, advisory assistance, and targeted training in support of the Nigerian Armed Forces,” stated an AFRICOM spokesperson to The Associated Press. The exact number of drones deployed remains undisclosed.

This military cooperation comes as Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation with over 200 million citizens, confronts an increasingly complex security landscape. The northern regions have become particularly volatile, with multiple armed groups operating across vast territories.

The insurgency is spearheaded by several Islamic militant organizations, including Boko Haram, which launched its campaign in 2009 to impose strict Sharia law in northeastern Nigeria. The Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), a Boko Haram offshoot with ties to the Islamic State group, has also gained significant traction in the region. Other threats include the IS-affiliated Lakurawa group and various criminal networks involved in kidnapping for ransom and illegal mining operations.

The severity of the situation was highlighted earlier this month when three suspected suicide bombings killed at least 23 people and wounded 108 others in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state. While no organization claimed responsibility, local authorities suspect Boko Haram’s involvement.

The security crisis has intensified with the incursion of militant groups from neighboring Sahel countries. Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin, a coalition of jihadist groups operating primarily in Mali, claimed its first attack on Nigerian soil last year, signaling the regionalization of the conflict.

According to United Nations data, the insurgency has claimed more than 40,000 lives since 2009, with security analysts criticizing the Nigerian government’s response as insufficient to protect its citizens.

The U.S.-Nigeria security partnership was reportedly strengthened following concerns raised by President Donald Trump regarding targeted attacks against Christians in the country. This relationship has gained additional strategic significance after Niger, which previously hosted a major U.S. drone base, expelled American troops following a military coup in the country.

On December 26, U.S. forces conducted strikes against Islamic State positions, demonstrating an escalating American military engagement in the region. This operational shift reflects Washington’s broader counterterrorism strategy in West Africa, as it adapts to changing political realities and emerging security threats across the Sahel.

The deployment represents a significant enhancement of Nigeria’s intelligence and surveillance capabilities in its fight against armed groups, though questions remain about how this increased U.S. military presence will shape the regional security dynamics in the long term.