US sends ‘small team’ of troops to Nigeria
The U.S. has sent a small team of troops to Nigeria, head of the U.S. military’s Africa Command AFRICOM, General Dagvin R.M. Anderson, said on Tuesday.
The two countries have entered into a strategic military agreement since President Donald Trump falsely accused Nigeria of doing nothing to stop a purported Christian genocide.
Trump had ordered U.S. forces to conduct an air strike in Nigeria on Christmas Day, which was a massive failure as it did not hit any reasonable target.
Since then the two countries have held high level meetings, with Nigeria asking the U.S. to support with military and intelligence equipment to address the prevailing security challenges in the country, which has nothing to do with religion.
The top general said the U.S. team was sent after both countries agreed that more needed to be done to combat the terrorist threat in West Africa.
“That has led to increased collaboration between our nations to include a small US team that brings some unique capabilities from the United States,” General Anderson, told journalists during a press briefing on Tuesday.
Anderson did not provide further details about the size and scope of their mission.
Nigeria’s Defense Minister Christopher Musa confirmed that a team was working in Nigeria but did not provide further details.
There has been renewed onslaught against bandits, Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters by Nigerian troops deep into areas hitherto inaccessible and fully under control of the criminals.
