The Nigerian military has confirmed the arrival of about 100 U.S. troops and their equipment in the country to help train local soldiers as the government battles terrorists and other armed groups.
The arrival followed a request by the Nigerian government to the U.S government for help with training, technical support and intelligence-sharing, the military said in a statement.
The deployment follows an easing of tensions that flared between the U.S. and Nigeria when U.S. President Donald Trump said the country wasn’t protecting Christians from an alleged genocide.
The Nigerian government has rejected the accusation, and analysts say it simplifies a very complicated situation in which people are often targeted regardless of their faith.
Maj. Gen. Samaila Uba, spokesman for Nigeria’s Defense Headquarters, previously has said that the U.S. troops won't engage in combat or have a direct operational role and that Nigerian forces will have complete command authority.
