No fewer than three United States military aircraft landed in Nigeria between Thursday and Friday, delivering ammunition and other operational equipment to support the country’s fight against insecurity, according to senior military sources.
The aircraft reportedly touched down at military bases in Maiduguri and other locations across the north. Senior officers at the Defence Headquarters said the consignments were sent by the American government as part of ongoing security cooperation with Nigeria.
According to the officers, the deliveries followed recent Nigeria–US bilateral engagements on security, under which the United States is providing logistics support, including ammunition, to bolster counterinsurgency operations. They noted that such supplies are often required to replenish stockpiles after sustained military operations.
Reports also indicated that additional US military transport aircraft were sighted at a military base in Maiduguri, with equipment being offloaded. A United States Department of Defense official was quoted as saying the flights marked the beginning of a steady flow of transport missions into multiple locations in Nigeria.
Separately, flight-tracking reports on X claimed that a US Air Force C-130J transport aircraft landed in Kaduna after departing from Ghana, fuelling speculation that Kaduna could serve as a training or logistics hub for US personnel working with the Nigerian military.
The development comes amid deepening security cooperation between Nigeria and the United States following heightened concerns over terrorism and insurgency. In 2025, US President warned of possible military intervention if Nigeria failed to address widespread insecurity, after which both countries intensified diplomatic and security engagements.
Reports have also indicated that about 200 US military personnel — including intelligence analysts, advisers and trainers — are being deployed to assist Nigerian forces with targeted counterterrorism operations. Additional aircraft carrying troops and equipment are expected to arrive in the coming weeks.
Reacting to the reports, retired Nigerian Army intelligence officer Chris Andrew said the US presence should not be misconstrued as a combat deployment, explaining that American personnel were providing technical expertise, particularly in drone operations and precision air capabilities.
Another security analyst, Chidi Omeje, described the development as a product of Nigeria’s soft diplomacy, stressing that while the partnership could enhance operational capacity, Nigeria must retain full sovereignty over any joint security activities.