Washington: The United States will send about 200 troops to Nigeria to help train the Nigerian military in counter-insurgency operations against Islamist militants, according to a U.S. official on Tuesday.
This follows U.S. airstrikes ordered by President Donald Trump several weeks ago on what he called Islamic State targets in the region.
The Pentagon said last week that a small group of U.S. personnel had already arrived in Nigeria before the official announcement to send 200 troops, but did not provide specific numbers.
This is the first official confirmation of American forces on the ground since Washington launched airstrikes on Christmas Day.
Trump has indicated that more U.S. military action in Nigeria could happen.
Earlier American surveillance flights started operating from Ghana in late November, before the airstrikes and troop deployment.
The official said the new deployment will strengthen the small U.S. presence already working with Nigerian forces.
Washington has urged Nigeria to do more against Islamist violence, and Trump has accused the government of not protecting Christians in the northwest.
Nigerian officials deny religious persecution, saying the military targets armed groups attacking both Christians and Muslims.
The Islamist insurgency, led by Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), has grown in recent months, with fighters attacking military convoys and civilians.
The 17-year conflict continues to destabilise Nigeria’s northwest. Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, has over 230 million people, with Christians mainly in the south and Muslims in the north.
