- Title: US to send 200 troops to Nigeria to train African nation's military
- Date: 11th February 2026
- Summary: SOKOTO, NIGERIA (DECEMBER 26, 2025) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF BURNT GRASS PATCH AFTER A US AIRSTRIKE IN NIGERIA VARIOUS OF SMALL CRATER ON GROUND / PEOPLE WATCHING VARIOUS OF POLICEMEN CORDONING OFF THE AREA ABUJA, NIGERIA (FEBRUARY 11, 2026) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF SECURITY CONSULTANT STEPHEN OKWORI IN HIS OFFICE (SOUNDBITE) (English) SECURITY CONSULTANT, STEPHEN OKWORI, SAYING:
- Embargoed:
- Keywords: USA airstrikes conflict insecurity military security target training troops trump
- Location: KWARA, SOKOTO AND ABUJA, NIGERIA
- City: KWARA, SOKOTO AND ABUJA, NIGERIA
- Country: Nigeria
- Topics: Africa,Conflicts/War/Peace,International/National Security
- Reuters ID: LVA001452211022026RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Nigeria's military said on Wednesday that about 200 U.S. troops due to arrive in the coming weeks would not take part in combat action and that Nigerian forces would retain full control over all security decisions.
This followed comments from a U.S. official on Tuesday that the Pentagon planned to deploy the troops to train Nigerian forces fighting Islamist militants, weeks after President Donald Trump ordered airstrikes against what he described as Islamic State targets.
Washington has stepped up pressure on Nigeria after Trump accused the West African nation of failing to protect Christians from Islamist militants in the northwest. Nigeria rejects allegations of religious persecution, saying its security forces target armed groups that attack both Christians and Muslims.
Security consultant Stephen Okwori said they ‘’will help with trainings to address these gaps that we have identified.’’ Adding that Nigeria’s ‘’sovereignty will not be affected''.
Nigeria faces overlapping security crises, including a long-running Islamist insurgency in the northeast, armed kidnapping gangs in the northwest and deadly clashes between farmers and herders in the central region, often driven by ethnic and religious tensions.
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