Around 100 United States troops have arrived in Nigeria to assist in training and equipping the country’s security forces as they confront ongoing terrorist threats, American officials have confirmed.
A further 200 personnel are expected to be deployed in the coming weeks, according to reports. The latest contingent has been sent to Bauchi State in north-eastern Nigeria at the request of the Nigerian government.
For more than a decade, an international coalition led by American military trainers has worked alongside Nigerian forces, particularly since the rise of Boko Haram in the early 2010s. The insurgency has been marked by attacks on civilians, including churches and Christian communities, as well as assaults on government targets.
A spokesperson for the Nigerian military said the renewed collaboration would strengthen the country’s ability to counter terrorist threats and improve protection for vulnerable communities.
Nigeria has faced prolonged internal violence, much of it attributed to extremist groups and armed Fulani militants. Tens of thousands of people have been killed or abducted in recent years, and many more have been forced to flee their homes.
Founded in 2002 as an Islamic school, Boko Haram later developed into a radical Islamist movement. In 2009, it launched an armed campaign that has continued, despite internal splits and leadership changes. One of its main factions now operates under the name Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS). The group has repeatedly targeted Christians, alongside government institutions and Muslims who oppose its ideology.
Another extremist faction active in the region is Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). Security analysts have reported that ISWAP has supported armed Fulani militants in attacks on Christian farming communities. Such violence is often linked to disputes over land and water, but observers say these clashes frequently take on a religious dimension, leading to assaults on churches, clergy and entire Christian villages.
Christian communities in parts of northern and central Nigeria, including southern Kaduna State, have faced repeated attacks over the years. Rights advocates argue that religious persecution remains a significant factor in the country’s insecurity.
Successive Nigerian administrations, under former presidents Goodluck Jonathan, Muhammadu Buhari and current president Bola Tinubu, have pledged to improve security. However, many local leaders and Christian organisations say protection for vulnerable communities remains insufficient.
The latest deployment of US personnel comes amid renewed international concern over the scale of violence and its impact on religious minorities in Africa’s most populous nation.
This is a rewritten version of the original article from ICC.
