The United States has delivered military equipment to the Nigerian Air Force to support ongoing counterterrorism operations across the country.
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The equipment was delivered to locations in Lagos and Kainji, Niger State, during September.
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The United States Africa Command, AFRICOM, said the equipment was transported into Nigeria aboard a US Air Force C-17 aircraft.
According to the command, the delivery was carried out under an existing foreign military sales agreement between the United States and Nigeria.
AFRICOM said the support was part of efforts to strengthen the strategic partnership between both countries and assist Nigerian-led operations against terrorism.
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The command added that US military assistance to Nigeria was provided at the invitation of the Nigerian authorities and with respect for the country’s sovereignty.
The delivery comes weeks after AFRICOM Commander, Gen. Dagvin Anderson, announced plans to reduce the number of US troops deployed in Nigeria.
The reduction followed a military operation in May that reportedly killed Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, described by US officials as the second-in-command of ISIS in the Lake Chad Basin.
US and Nigerian officials reportedly said the relatively small American deployment had achieved positive results.
Although the larger contingent is expected to leave Nigeria by the end of September, small teams of US military trainers and intelligence analysts are expected to remain.
American officials were also reported to have described the Nigerian deployment as a possible model for future US counterterrorism operations in other parts of Africa.
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