The United States has withdrawn most of its military personnel deployed to Nigeria for a joint counterterrorism operation in the Lake Chad Basin, while reaffirming its commitment to continued intelligence sharing and security cooperation with Nigerian authorities.
The announcement was made by the Commander of the United States Air Forces in Africa, General Dagvin R.M. Anderson, during a virtual briefing on the outcome of the African Chiefs of Defence Conference 2026.
According to Anderson, the deployment achieved its primary objective, making the continued presence of a large number of American troops unnecessary. He explained that although most of the personnel have returned home, the United States will continue supporting Nigeria with intelligence and other specialised capabilities at the request of the Nigerian government.
He noted that the operation contributed significantly to disrupting the activities of the Islamic State (ISIS/Daesh) in the Lake Chad region and beyond, describing Nigeria as a strategic partner with a capable military and a crucial role in regional security.
Anderson said intelligence cooperation between both countries has produced tangible results, including a joint operation that led to the elimination of the second-highest-ranking ISIS leader, who was reportedly responsible for the group’s global operations, propaganda and recruitment activities.
He explained that the success demonstrated the value of intelligence-driven partnerships over prolonged foreign military deployments, stressing that the United States intends to focus on providing unique capabilities that strengthen the operational effectiveness of partner nations.
The US military commander also called for stronger intelligence collaboration among African countries to combat terrorism, organised crime and drug trafficking across the continent.
As an example, he cited a recent multinational operation that intercepted a record 31-ton shipment of cocaine travelling from South America through the West African coast. According to him, coordinated intelligence sharing among international partners led to the successful interception by Spanish authorities, resulting in what he described as the largest maritime drug seizure on record.
Anderson added that sustained cooperation between African governments, international allies and private-sector stakeholders remains essential to addressing security threats while creating an environment that supports economic growth and investment.
The United States deployed about 200 military personnel to Nigeria in February 2026 to assist with intelligence, surveillance and counterterrorism operations targeting ISIS and other extremist groups operating in the Lake Chad Basin.
The security partnership recorded one of its biggest successes in May 2026, when a joint US-Nigerian operation reportedly killed Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki, the second-in-command of ISIS, during a raid on his hideout in Borno State.
