Author: Gist Correspondent

The United States has withdrawn most of its military personnel deployed to Nigeria for counterterrorism operations in the Lake Chad Basin, while maintaining intelligence sharing and other security cooperation with the Nigerian government.

The Commander of US Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa, General Dagvin R.M. Anderson, announced the development during a virtual briefing on the outcome of the African Chiefs of Defence Conference 2026.

According to Anderson, the deployment achieved its objective of disrupting the activities of the Islamic State (ISIS/Daesh) in the region, prompting the withdrawal of most US forces involved in the operation.

He, however, stressed that the United States would continue to provide intelligence support and other specialised assistance requested by Nigeria to strengthen ongoing counterterrorism efforts.

"And so we have withdrawn much of our forces that were just there for that operation, but are continuing the partnership that Nigeria has asked for to help continue with the intelligence sharing," Anderson said.

The US commander described Nigeria as a capable partner with a strong military, noting that intelligence cooperation between both countries played a key role in the successful operation that eliminated the second-in-command of the global ISIS network, who was responsible for the group's international operations, media and recruitment.

He said the operation demonstrated the effectiveness of intelligence collaboration over prolonged foreign troop deployments and reaffirmed Washington's commitment to supporting African partners with specialised capabilities.

Anderson also called for stronger intelligence sharing among African nations to tackle terrorism, drug trafficking and other transnational crimes.

He cited recent cooperation that led to the interception of a record 31-tonne cocaine shipment originating from South America and transiting through the West African coast, describing it as the largest maritime drug seizure on record.

The US deployed about 200 military personnel to Nigeria in February 2026 to support intelligence, surveillance and counterterrorism operations in the Lake Chad Basin amid growing security cooperation between both countries.

The partnership culminated in May 2026 with a joint US-Nigerian operation that reportedly killed Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki, the second-in-command of ISIS, at his hideout in Borno State.