US to Withdraw About 200 Troops from Nigeria by September

The United States is set to withdraw about 200 American troops deployed to Nigeria as part of efforts to support the country’s fight against Islamist militants.

The withdrawal, which is expected to be completed by late September, was reported by The New York Times. However, the report noted that the move does not signal an end to Washington’s security cooperation with Nigeria.

Instead, smaller teams of American military trainers and intelligence personnel are expected to remain in the country to support Nigerian-led counterterrorism operations.

The US military had increased its presence in Nigeria earlier this year amid growing security concerns, with American and Nigerian forces conducting intelligence-led operations against extremist targets, particularly in the North-East.

One of the joint operations in the Lake Chad Basin reportedly resulted in the killing of Abu Bilal al-Minuki, whom US officials identified as a senior Islamic State figure and the group’s second-in-command globally.

Colonel Becky Heyse, a spokesperson for the US Africa Command, described the joint approach as effective.

“Our recent joint efforts in Nigeria are a prime example of how this tailored, temporary footprint can yield significant security returns,” she said.

According to The New York Times, Washington’s decision to reduce the size of its military presence follows an assessment that the specific mission for which the larger contingent was deployed has largely achieved its primary objectives.

The planned withdrawal therefore appears to be a scaling back of the US military footprint rather than a complete disengagement from Nigeria’s security sector.

American personnel who remain in the country are expected to continue providing training, intelligence support and other assistance to Nigerian forces as the country takes the lead in ongoing counterterrorism operations.

The development comes as Nigerian security forces continue to battle insurgent and extremist groups operating across parts of the North-East and the wider Lake Chad region.