TheUnited States is set to withdraw about 200 American troops from Nigeria, months after deploying them to support the country’s efforts against Islamist militants.
The withdrawal is expected to be completed by late September, according to a report by The New York Times, although Washington is not ending its broader security relationship with Nigeria.
Despite the planned withdrawal, smaller teams of American trainers and intelligence personnel are expected to remain in Nigeria.
Their continued presence will allow the United States to support Nigerian-led counterterrorism operations while reducing the size of its military footprint in the country.
The development follows Washington’s assessment that the specific mission that prompted the deployment of the larger contingent has achieved its main objectives.
A spokesperson for the Pentagon’s Africa Command, Colonel Becky Heyse, described the joint approach between the two countries as effective.
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“Our recent joint efforts in Nigeria are a prime example of how this tailored, temporary footprint can yield significant security returns,” she said.
US and Nigerian forces have worked together on intelligence-led operations targeting extremist groups, particularly in northeastern Nigeria and the wider Lake Chad Basin.
One such operation resulted in the death of Abu Bilal al-Minuki, whom US officials identified as a senior Islamic State figure and the group’s second-in-command globally.
The operation was part of broader cooperation between Nigerian and American security forces aimed at disrupting militant networks and weakening their operational capabilities.
The United States increased its military presence in Nigeria in February 2026, following months of growing security concerns.
American personnel subsequently worked with Nigerian forces on intelligence gathering, training and operations against extremist targets in the country’s northeast.
The planned withdrawal therefore represents a reduction in the size of the US contingent rather than a complete end to American security cooperation with Nigeria.
With smaller teams expected to remain, Washington is set to continue providing support while Nigerian forces take greater responsibility for leading operations against militant groups.
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