The United States has deployed multiple MQ-9 Reaper drones and about 200 troops to Nigeria to bolster intelligence gathering and provide training support to the Nigerian military in its ongoing counterinsurgency operations.

The deployment, according to U.S. and Nigerian officials, is strictly limited to surveillance and advisory roles, with no American personnel embedded in frontline combat units and no drone strikes currently being conducted.

“The U.S. military has multiple MQ-9 drones operating in Nigeria alongside 200 troops to provide training and intelligence support,” officials from both countries told Reuters.

The report, published Saturday, indicated that the deployment was at the request of Nigerian authorities to enhance efforts to identify, track, and respond to terrorist threats, particularly in the country’s northern region.

A U.S. defence official described the collaboration as a response to a “shared security threat,” stressing that the mission remains confined to intelligence collection and advisory support.

Confirming the development, the Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, said U.S. forces are operating from an airfield in Bauchi State in the northeast.

He noted that the partnership builds on the recently established U.S.-Nigeria intelligence fusion cell, which has been providing actionable intelligence to Nigerian field commanders.

“Our U.S. partners remain in a strictly non-combat role, enabling operations led by Nigerian authorities,” Uba said.

The MQ-9 drones, widely known as Reaper drones, are capable of flying at high altitudes for over 27 hours and can be configured for both surveillance and precision strikes. However, officials emphasised that the drones currently deployed in Nigeria are being used solely for intelligence gathering.

“Our U.S. partners are helping Nigeria identify, track, and respond to terrorist threats,” Uba added, without disclosing operational details.

The development comes amid a resurgence of violence in parts of northern Nigeria. On March 16, suicide bombers attacked a garrison town in the northeast, highlighting the persistent threat posed by Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).

“We continue to assess that these groups may target vulnerable locations and attempt high-visibility attacks to assert relevance,” Uba warned.

The Nigerian military said the duration of the U.S. deployment would be determined jointly by both countries, noting that the mission reflects a deepening focus on intelligence-sharing and capacity-building.

The latest move follows earlier U.S. military actions in Nigeria, including airstrikes reportedly carried out on Christmas Day under the administration of former President Donald Trump, targeting ISIS-linked elements in the northwest. Nigerian authorities said the strikes formed part of coordinated efforts with international partners to combat terrorism.

In February, reports had already indicated that approximately 200 U.S. troops were deployed to Nigeria to strengthen counterterrorism operations through training and intelligence support, coming amid heightened international concern over insecurity in the country.