Nigeria and the United States have deepened military cooperation through intelligence sharing, drone operations, and advisory troop support, including plans for a US drone refuelling station in Nigeria’s north-east.
EXCLUSIVE: Inside details of Nigeria’s military partnership with the US
— TheCable (@thecableng) February 7, 2026
Details have unfurled on the scope of Nigeria’s military partnership with the United States, following increased collaboration between both countries in the wake of President Donald Trump’s re-designation… pic.twitter.com/33MlBIsb6C
Details have emerged on Nigeria’s expanding military partnership with the United States following renewed collaboration after President Donald Trump re-designated Nigeria as a country of particular concern over alleged Christian persecution, a claim Abuja has repeatedly denied.
The move prompted high-level talks between Nigerian officials led by NSA Nuhu Ribadu and US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, who said Washington was “working aggressively” with Nigeria. Soon after, the US began intelligence-gathering flights over Nigeria from Ghana, later followed by Christmas Day strikes on terrorist enclaves in Sokoto.
Officials told TheCable the strikes were conducted using drones, not cruise missiles, with debris from precision-guided munitions causing explosions reported in parts of Kwara State. Nigeria’s foreign ministry said the operation followed intelligence sharing and “established international practice and bilateral understanding”.
Sources disclosed that the US requested a drone refuelling station in Nigeria, with a north-eastern state selected. “We’re not going to have boots on the ground… They are only going to support Nigeria either in equipment or intelligence,” an official said, adding US troops currently serve in an advisory and training role.