Nigerian Military Finally Breaks Silence After US Announces Withdrawal of Troops in Nigeria
- The Nigerian military broke its silence on the reported withdrawal of about 200 US troops stationed in Nigeria
- Defence Headquarters spokesperson Major General Samaila Uba addressed journalists at an NCTC security briefing on Tuesday
- Uba said key aspects of the bilateral partnership, including intelligence sharing and military training, remain active
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The Nigerian military has pushed back against suggestions that the withdrawal of United States troops signals a collapse in security ties between Abuja and Washington, describing the drawdown as a routine adjustment tied to specific mission objectives.
Major General Samaila Uba, spokesperson for the Defence Headquarters, addressed the issue on Tuesday at a security briefing organised by the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC).
Source: Getty Images
According to Premium Times, he said he had received several inquiries from journalists on the matter and had prepared a formal statement to deliver at the forum.
"The Armed Forces of Nigeria wishes to clarify that the reported withdrawal of about 200 United States personnel should not be interpreted as a breakdown or termination of the Nigeria-United States security partnership," Uba said.
Background to the US troop deployment
The deployment began in early February, following an agreement between both governments after the US carried out an attack against suspected ISIS fighters in Nigeria. US President Donald Trump had claimed the group was targeting Christians. By mid-February, around 200 US troops had arrived in north-eastern Nigeria.
Military authorities initially said the troops would not take part in direct combat, limiting their role to intelligence sharing, military education, logistics support and strategic dialogue. However, the troops later joined Nigerian soldiers in a combat operation that killed a top commander of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and several other fighters in the North-east. Their activities were largely concentrated in Borno State.
The planned withdrawal was first reported by The New York Times last week. Earlier, in July, the commander of the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), Dagvin Anderson, confirmed that "much of our forces" had already been "withdrawn," while adding that the US was "continuing the partnership that Nigeria has asked for to help continue with the intelligence sharing and the understanding that's necessary."
Military insists cooperation remains intact
Uba said the Nigeria-US defence relationship remains "strong, enduring, and mutually beneficial," and that the drawdown reflects how military partnerships naturally evolve around specific operational goals rather than permanent arrangements.
He added that core elements of the partnership, covering intelligence sharing, training, technical assistance and information exchange, are still in place.
"Our cooperation with the United States is designed to strengthen our capabilities through intelligence sharing, training, technical assistance and other forms of professional military cooperation," he said.
The spokesperson also stressed that the primary responsibility for Nigeria's security lies with Nigerian forces, and that foreign partnerships exist only to build local capacity.
He called on journalists and members of the public to avoid reading too much into the troop reduction. "We equally call on the media and the Nigerian public to avoid interpreting a routine or mission-specific adjustment in foreign military presence as evidence of a collapse in Nigeria's security cooperation or national defence capability," Uba said.
Trump orders immediate withdrawal of US troops
Legit.ng earlier reported that the United States military has pulled out most of its troops from Nigeria following the conclusion of a joint counterterrorism operation in the Lake Chad Basin, a senior American general has confirmed.
General Dagvin R.M. Anderson, Commander of US Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa, disclosed this at a press briefing held on the sidelines of the African Chiefs of Defence Conference 2026.
Source: Legit.ng
