A US Army soldier (left) trains Nigerian Army soldiers at a military compound in Jaji, Nigeria, February 13, 2018. US ARMY / VIA REUTERS
Some 100 US soldiers are being deployed to Nigeria as part of increased military cooperation to fight insecurity in the West African country, the Nigerian Defense Ministry announced on Monday, February 16. The ministry did not specify when the "US military trainers" arrived or were due to arrive.
"The Defense Headquarters (DHQ) wishes to announce the arrival of about 100 United States military personnel and associated equipment at Bauchi Airfield," the statement said.
"The arrival is planned and deliberate following a formal request by the Federal Government of Nigeria to the US government to support a clearly defined military training requirement, technical support and intelligence sharing with the members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria."
Nigeria is facing a longstanding jihadist insurgency in the northeast, a conflict between farmers and herders in north-central regions, separatist violence in the southeast and kidnappings for ransom in the northwest.
