The United States has withdrawn most of its military personnel deployed to support counterterrorism operations in Nigeria’s Lake Chad Basin.
However, U.S. authorities say intelligence sharing and broader security cooperation with Nigeria will continue.
The Commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Africa, General Dagvin Anderson, disclosed this during a briefing on the outcome of the African Chiefs of Defence Conference 2026.
According to him, although the specific military operation has ended and most American personnel have left the region, the United States remains committed to supporting Nigeria through intelligence collaboration at the request of the Nigerian government.
General Anderson described Nigeria as a capable security partner, saying cooperation between both countries has contributed to significant successes against the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or Daesh.
He said intelligence sharing between the two countries helped support an operation that targeted a senior ISIS leader responsible for the group’s global operations, media activities, and recruitment.
The U.S. commander stressed that the operation demonstrated the effectiveness of intelligence cooperation over long-term foreign military deployments.
He also called for stronger intelligence sharing among African countries to tackle terrorism, drug trafficking, and other transnational crimes.
According to him, international cooperation recently contributed to the interception of a record 31-tonne cocaine shipment travelling from South America through the West African coast.
General Anderson said continued collaboration among African governments, international partners, and the private sector remains essential for strengthening security, promoting stability, and supporting economic development across the continent.
The United States deployed about 200 military personnel to Nigeria in February 2026 to support intelligence, surveillance, and counterterrorism operations in the Lake Chad Basin.
