In brief
In July 2026 the U.S. announced the withdrawal of the majority of a 200‑strong contingent it had sent to Nigeria in December 2025 to support counter‑insurgency. The joint raid, which followed Christmas‑Day strikes, killed IS commander Abu‑Bilal al‑Minuki and reportedly disrupted the group's command and control structure. Nigerian officials said the pull‑back would not affect their momentum, and intelligence‑sharing will continue. Despite the success, jihadist attacks continue to occur, especially in north‑eastern Nigeria.
The United States has withdrawn most of the troops it deployed in Nigeria earlier this year in an effort to help fight Islamist militant groups.
In December, U.S. and Nigerian forces launched a joint operation in the Lake Chad Basin area. The operation involved strikes against militants on Christmas Day and the subsequent deployment of about 200 soldiers two months later.
Senior Islamic State (IS) leader Abu‑Bilal al‑Minuki was killed during the months‑long mission, according to U.S. officials.
During a briefing on Thursday, U.S. forces claimed the operation had been successful, stating that IS’ leadership in Nigeria had been "significantly degraded." The Nigerian military spokesperson said the withdrawal would "not affect our momentum in any way".
Despite these achievements, jihadist groups continue to stage attacks, especially in north‑eastern Nigeria. Maj‑Gen Michael Onoja said intelligence‑sharing between the two countries will continue, a point also confirmed by U.S. military briefing.
Military cooperation between Nigeria and the U.S. increased after Washington accused Nigerian authorities of not doing enough to protect vulnerable groups against Islamist militants and alleged a "Christian genocide" in the country. Nigeria firmly rejected this claim, stating that the violence is complex and affects people from all communities. Organisations monitoring political violence in Nigeria say most victims of jihadist groups are Muslims because they largely operate in the north where most people follow Islam.
Earlier this year the U.S. said it would deploy about 200 troops to support Nigeria's counter‑insurgency efforts, stressing that its forces would not take part in ground combat. General Dagvin Anderson, Commander of US Air Forces in Africa, announced most troops had now left, describing the operation as successful. IS has largely shifted to sub‑Saharan Africa, with around 90% of its attacks now occurring there, analysts say.
Anderson added that the group's local command structure and wider global network had both been disrupted by the joint operation, limiting its ability to communicate. Despite the withdrawal, U.S. military personnel stationed in Nigeria before the Lake Chad Basin operation have remained in the country, according to military spokesperson Major General Samaila Uba.
Nigeria faces multiple security challenges. In addition to Islamist militants, banditry and criminal violence plague the country and have spread from the north into parts of central and southern Nigeria.
