By Tekena Amieyeofori
The United States has withdrawn most of its forces deployed for a joint counterterrorism operation in Nigeria’s Lake Chad Basin, while retaining intelligence sharing and other aspects of its joint military cooperation with Nigeria.
Commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa, Gen. Dagvin R.M. Anderson, made this known on Thursday during a virtual press briefing on the outcome of the 2026 African Chiefs of Defence Conference. He highlighted how U.S.-Nigeria intelligence collaboration contributed to recent counterterrorism successes against the Islamic State.
Gen. Anderson explained that the specific mission in the Lake Chad Basin had ended and most U.S. personnel deployed for it had exited Nigeria. He added that Washington remains committed to supporting Nigeria through intelligence collaboration at Abuja’s request.
“And so that operation in the Lake Chad Basin of Nigeria not only helped the countries in that immediate region; it also helps countries globally as that disrupts the ISIS network,” Anderson said.
“Then, we have withdrawn much of our forces that were just there for that operation, but we are continuing the partnership that Nigeria has asked for to help continue with the intelligence sharing and the understanding that’s necessary to be able to prosecute these difficult tasks,” he added.
The U.S. general described Nigeria as a strong and capable partner with a large economy, educated population and capable military. He said U.S. experience in counterterrorism, combined with Nigerian military efforts and intelligence exchange, led to significant results against ISIS.
“I think the partnership that we’ve shown recently with Nigeria, where Nigeria’s a very capable and large country, it’s got a strong economy; it’s got a large, educated population; it’s got a very capable military. But there are things that we have learned in the counterterrorist fight over several years that we were able to assist and integrate with them to help them with their intelligence and help with the intelligence sharing that eventually led to a cooperative effort to where we were able to bring some unique capabilities that the U.S. brings and be able to prosecute together the number two leader within the ISIS or Daesh organisation who is responsible for much of their global operations, their global media, and their recruiting.”
Gen. Anderson stressed that the operation demonstrated the value of intelligence cooperation over long-term foreign troop deployments.
“So, I think as we go forward, that is an example of how we’re looking at engaging with partners to help them be more effective by only bringing unique U.S. capabilities that allow the partner to be effective in these fights,” he said.
He also advocated stronger intelligence sharing among African countries to combat terrorism, illicit trafficking and other transnational crimes. He cited recent coordination between U.S. agencies, AFRICOM and international partners that led to the interception of a record 31-tonne cocaine shipment off the West African coast by a Spanish vessel.
“I was able to coordinate through our interagency in the United States, through AFRICOM, and then notify some of the partners. And eventually it was a Spanish ship that interdicted the ship that had 31 tonnes of cocaine on it, and it turns out to be the largest interdiction of drugs on the sea that we’ve ever seen,” Anderson said.
He added that sustained cooperation among African countries, international partners and the private sector will remain critical for addressing security threats and promoting economic stability and investment across the continent.
The U.S. deployed about 200 military personnel to Nigeria in February 2026 to support intelligence, surveillance and counterterrorism operations in the Lake Chad Basin. The deployment followed growing security cooperation between Washington and Abuja in the fight against ISIS and other militant groups.
The troop deployment came after the U.S. redesignated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern, with President Donald Trump pledging intensified support against terrorist groups operating in the country.
On December 25, 2025, U.S. forces conducted airstrikes on two militant enclaves in Bauni Forest, Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State. The partnership peaked in May 2026 when a joint U.S.-Nigerian operation killed Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki, the second-in-command of ISIS, at his hideout in Borno State.