Insecurity: US Troops Set to Leave Nigeria

The United States is preparing to withdraw about 200 American troops deployed to Nigeria to support the fight against Islamist militants.

The withdrawal is expected to be completed by late September 2026. The move, however, will not mark the end of the security partnership between the United States and Nigeria.

Smaller teams of American military trainers and intelligence personnel are expected to remain in the country to support operations led by Nigerian forces.

The US military increased its presence in Nigeria in February 2026 following growing security concerns, particularly in the North-East. American and Nigerian forces subsequently worked together on intelligence-led operations targeting extremist groups in the region.

One of the joint operations was conducted in the Lake Chad Basin and 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 Pentagon’s Africa Command described the joint approach as effective, saying the temporary deployment had produced security gains.

The planned withdrawal comes after Washington concluded that the larger contingent had largely achieved the specific objectives for which it was deployed. The continued presence of smaller US teams means American support for Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts is expected to continue even after the main troop withdrawal.