On Tuesday, the United States confirmed that a small contingent of troops has been deployed to Nigeria, the commander of the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) disclosed. This is the first official acknowledgment of U.S. forces on Nigerian soil since Washington carried out airstrikes in the country on Christmas Day.

On Tuesday, General Dagvin R.M. Anderson, AFRICOM chief, told journalists that the deployment followed agreements between both nations to step up efforts against terrorism in West Africa.

“The deployment has led to closer collaboration between our nations, including a small U.S. team bringing specialized capabilities to Nigeria,” General Anderson said, without providing details on the team’s size or mission scope.

On the same day, Nigeria’s Defence Minister, General Christopher Musa (retd), confirmed the presence of the U.S. team but declined to give further information.

A former U.S. official said the American personnel appear heavily involved in intelligence gathering and supporting Nigerian forces in operations against terrorist-affiliated groups.

The deployment comes amid increasing pressure from Washington, after President Trump accused Nigeria of failing to protect Christians from Islamist militants in the northwest. Nigerian authorities, however, insist that their operations target insurgents who attack both Christian and Muslim civilians.

Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have intensified assaults on military convoys and communities, with the northwest remaining the epicentre of a 17-year Islamist insurgency.

On Tuesday, AFRICOM confirmed that a U.S.-coordinated strike in Sokoto State eliminated multiple ISIS-affiliated militants. The operation was carried out in close coordination with Nigerian authorities.

President Trump, in October, had warned that Christianity faced an “existential threat” in Nigeria and hinted that military intervention could be warranted if violence against Christian communities persisted.