President Donald Trump ordered airstrikes on what he described as Islamic State targets in Nigeria in December and said there could be more US military action there. The top general said the US team was sent after both countries agreed that more needed to be done to combat the terrorist threat in West Africa. Defence Minister Christopher Musa confirmed that a team was working in Nigeria but did not provide further details. A former US official said the US team appeared to be heavily involved in intelligence gathering and enabling Nigerian forces to strike terrorist-affiliated groups. Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters have intensified attacks on military convoys and civilians, and the northwest remains the epicentre of the 17-year Islamist insurgency.

Source: Daily Nation February 04, 2026 11:30 UTC