The United States has delivered a fresh consignment of military supplies to Nigerian security forces in a move officials say will bolster ongoing operations against terrorist and violent extremist groups across the country.
The delivery was confirmed on Tuesday by the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) on its official X (formerly Twitter) account, saying the equipment was handed over in Abuja and will support Nigeria’s “ongoing operations” under the two countries’ long-standing security partnership.
According to AFRICOM, the shipment underscores continued cooperation aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s operational capacity amid persistent threats from groups such as Boko Haram and Islamic State-linked militants.
This latest support comes against the backdrop of expanded U.S. involvement in Nigeria’s security landscape. In late 2025, U.S. forces launched airstrikes against Islamic State affiliates in Sokoto State at the request of Nigerian authorities, killing several militants, AFRICOM said.
The strikes — part of a broader U.S. counter-terrorism push — marked a significant escalation in Washington’s role in combating extremist threats in West Africa. The operation followed months of diplomatic engagement, including high-level talks in Washington aimed at deepening security cooperation and enhancing intelligence sharing.
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Nigerian officials have repeatedly emphasised that violent attacks affect communities across religious and ethnic lines, rejecting narratives that frame the crisis as targeted persecution. Abuja has also welcomed expanded technical, logistical, and intelligence support from the U.S. government as part of a coordinated strategy to improve civilian protection and regional stability.
The U.S. military support supplements longstanding defence collaboration under initiatives such as the Trans-Saharan Counterterrorism Partnership, which focuses on training, counter-terrorism capacity building, and multinational cooperation across the Sahel and West Africa.
Security sources noted the sustained U.S. engagement reflects growing concern in Washington over the spill-over effects of instability in the Sahel and Nigeria’s internal security dynamics, which have broader implications for regional peace and U.S. strategic interests in Africa.