United States Army Lieutenant General John Brennan has stated that his country’s military is increasing materiel deliveries and intelligence sharing with Nigeria in the fight against Islamic State-linked militants.

Brennan, who is the deputy commander of the United States Africa C0mmand, told AFP that the Pentagon has kept open lines of communication with militaries in the junta-led Sahel countries of Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali.

The development comes amid escalating jihadist killings in Nigeria, with the US mounting pressure on the government to put an end to the violence.

Speaking on the sidelines of a US-Nigeria security meeting in the Nigerian capital last week, Brennan said under President Donald Trump, “We’ve gotten a lot more aggressive and (are) working with partners to target, kinetically, the threats, mainly ISIS.

“From Somalia to Nigeria, the problem set is connected. So we’re trying to take it apart and then provide partners with the information they need.

“It’s been about more enabling partners and then providing them equipment and capabilities with less restrictions so that they can be more successful.” (The Sun)