Additional details have emerged regarding the Nigeria-US counter-terrorism deal. According to TheCable, the United States has requested a drone refueling station in Nigeria to conduct long-range operations across the country without establishing a permanent base on Nigerian soil.… https://t.co/pmaGqWxB1Y pic.twitter.com/vFL7xB8jEz
— Brant (@BrantPhilip_) February 7, 2026
Additional details have emerged regarding the Nigeria-US counter-terrorism deal. According to TheCable, the United States has requested a drone refueling station in Nigeria to conduct long-range operations across the country without establishing a permanent base on Nigerian soil.
A state in the northeast was reportedly selected to host this refueling base. This facility would facilitate direct air support for Nigerian ground troops during operations against ISWAP.
Regarding reports from AFRICOM that a “small team” of US forces was recently deployed to Nigeria, an official told TheCable that US troops have maintained a long-term presence in the country for training and intelligence purposes. The scope of this contingent’s duties has simply widened to meet current security needs.
The US contingent in Nigeria is allegedly the 3rd Special Forces Group, which specializes in unconventional warfare and counter-insurgency. This group previously participated in counter-terrorism operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, and they reportedly played a role in the US strikes against Islamic State targets in northwest Nigeria over the Christmas period.
(Image shows US troops of the 3rd Special Forces Group during deployment in Iraq, 2015)