The United States has deployed a small team of military specialists to Nigeria to strengthen ongoing counter-terrorism efforts, the Commander of US Africa Command (AFRICOM), General Dagvin R.M. Anderson, has disclosed.

Speaking during an on-the-record virtual media briefing, General Anderson said the deployment followed high-level discussions with President Bola Tinubu late last year aimed at deepening security cooperation between the two countries.

“I was able to meet President Tinubu at the Aqaba Process meeting in Rome,” Anderson said.

“We shared thoughts and agreed that we needed to work together on a way forward in the region.

“That has led to increased collaboration between our nations, to include a small US team that brings some unique capabilities from the United States in order to augment what Nigeria has been doing for several years,” he added.

According to the AFRICOM commander, the initiative is part of a broader US strategy to assist willing African partners in confronting the growing threat of terrorism, particularly in West Africa.

General Anderson explained that the deployed team is providing specialized support in areas such as intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), as well as intelligence fusion and operational planning.

He stressed that the support is designed to complement Nigeria’s existing military operations rather than replace them.

“Nigeria is a very willing and capable partner,” he noted. “When we fuse the unique capabilities that the US can bring with Nigeria’s own efforts, we are much more effective in countering these threats.”

Anderson revealed that his deputy commander recently visited Nigeria alongside a senior U.S. State Department delegation led by Alison Hooker to review progress and explore additional areas of cooperation.

“I think we’ve had some really good, positive movement there,” he said.

The AFRICOM chief warned that extremist groups affiliated with ISIS and Al-Qaeda continue to expand their activities across West Africa, posing serious threats to regional stability.

“We clearly see a growing terrorist threat in the Sahel and surrounding regions,” he stated, adding that international cooperation is essential to reversing the trend.

He described the Nigeria partnership as a model for how the United States intends to work with African nations facing similar challenges.

“When we can find a capable and willing partner to work with, and bring our unique capabilities to bear, we see real success in addressing these threats,” Anderson said.

Sergeant Major Derek Banfield, AFRICOM’s Command Senior Enlisted Leader, reinforced the command’s commitment to supporting African partners.

“We are ready and willing to work with partners to address shared security concerns,” Banfield said.

“A secure environment leads to stability, and stability creates room for investment and prosperity.”

General Anderson concluded that US engagement in Nigeria and across Africa is aimed at helping partner nations achieve long-term security and operational independence.

“Our goal is to help degrade the threat and create opportunities for development that allow all of us to prosper together,” he said.

The deployment signals renewed US commitment to Nigeria’s fight against insurgency and terrorism at a time when extremist violence continues to challenge several countries across West Africa. (The Sun, excluding headline)