US withdraws troops from Nigeria but keeps intelligence sharing, says US commander

On July 2, 2026, General Dagvin R.M. Anderson, Commander of US Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa, announced that the United States has withdrawn most of its troops deployed for a joint counterterrorism operation in Nigeria’s Lake Chad Basin, while maintaining intelligence sharing and other security cooperation at Nigeria’s request. Speaking at the African Chiefs of Defence Conference 2026, Anderson noted that the operation had disrupted the ISIS network, contributing to a successful strike against the ISIS global network’s second‑in‑command, and praised Nigeria’s capable military as a reliable partner.

The troop drawdown ends the direct combat footprint but preserves the intelligence partnership that has yielded concrete results against ISIS. For Nigeria, continued US intelligence support helps sustain pressure on militant groups in the Northeast and supports broader regional stability. For the United States, the arrangement allows ongoing counterterrorism cooperation without a large ground presence.

What does this mean for Nigeria’s security outlook and the future of US‑African security cooperation? Will the intelligence‑only arrangement be sufficient to contain insurgent threats, or should Nigeria expect further adjustments in US military involvement?

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/07/02/us-withdraws-troops-from-nigeria/