The United States has withdrawn most of its military personnel deployed to Nigeria following the completion of a series of joint counter-terrorism operations targeting Islamic State-linked insurgents, according to reports.
The withdrawal comes after months of coordinated operations between US forces and the Nigerian military aimed at degrading the operational capacity of the Islamic State West Africa Province and other extremist groups operating in the North-East.
Although details of the deployment and the exact number of troops involved were not disclosed, the move signals the conclusion of the latest phase of military cooperation between both countries in the fight against terrorism.
The US military has maintained that its role in Nigeria has largely focused on intelligence sharing, training, logistics and operational support rather than direct combat, as part of Washington’s broader security partnership with Nigeria and other West African countries.
The troop drawdown is understood to be part of a planned transition after achieving key operational objectives during the joint campaign against ISIS-affiliated fighters.
Security analysts, however, say the withdrawal places greater responsibility on Nigerian security forces to sustain pressure on insurgent groups and prevent them from regrouping, especially in the North-East where sporadic attacks have continued despite repeated military offensives.
Nigeria has battled insurgency for more than a decade, with terrorist groups including Boko Haram and ISWAP responsible for thousands of deaths, mass displacement and widespread destruction across Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.
The Nigerian government has consistently strengthened security cooperation with international partners, including the United States, through intelligence exchange, specialised military training and counter-terrorism assistance.
Neither the Nigerian military nor US authorities had, as of the time of filing this report, issued detailed public statements on the troop withdrawal or its implications for future security cooperation between both countries.
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