The United States has deployed military drones and about 200 personnel to Nigeria to support ongoing operations against insurgent groups through intelligence gathering and training.

According to a report by Reuters, the deployment includes MQ-9 drones, also known as Reaper drones, which are being used strictly for surveillance and intelligence purposes, not airstrikes.

Officials from both the US and Nigeria said the American troops are not embedded with Nigerian frontline units but are instead focused on capacity building and intelligence support for the military.

A US defence official disclosed that the deployment was made at Nigeria’s request, describing the insurgency as a shared security concern. The drones are expected to enhance the ability of Nigerian forces to monitor and respond to threats.

Confirming the development, Samaila Uba, director of defence information, said the US is operating from an airfield in Bauchi state. He added that the collaboration builds on an existing US-Nigeria intelligence fusion arrangement, which provides actionable intelligence to field commanders.

Uba emphasised that US personnel remain in a strictly non-combat role, supporting operations led by Nigerian authorities. He also noted that the duration of the deployment would be jointly determined by both countries.

The move follows the closure of a major US drone base in neighbouring Niger in 2024, after the country’s military government asked American forces to leave. It also signals renewed US involvement in countering extremist groups linked to Islamic State and al-Qaeda across West Africa.

Despite years of military operations, insurgent groups such as Boko Haram and ISWAP continue to pose a significant threat, with recent attacks highlighting their ability to strike both rural and urban areas.

Nigerian authorities say the additional intelligence support will improve efforts to identify, track, and neutralise terrorist elements as they adapt their tactics.