Nigeria's authorities have confirmed the planned withdrawal of around 200 American troops who were sent to help the country tackle its complex security crisis. This was reported by infohub.kz.
The U.S. troops were deployed in February following an escalation in tensions between Nigeria and the U.S. after accusations of Christian genocide. According to the Nigerian government, the U.S. military personnel assisted in training and intelligence gathering and took part in a joint operation in which a top Islamic State leader was killed.
Nigerian military spokesperson Samaila Uba said that the relationship between Nigeria and the U.S. remains strong, enduring, and mutually beneficial. The deployment of U.S. personnel was tied to specific operational and counterterrorism objectives. He noted that the withdrawal is a part of the engagement, and some parts of the security partnership will continue.
Nigeria is currently facing a serious security crisis. Jihadist groups and other criminal groups carry out several attacks across the country. Since President Bola Tinubu came to power, the crisis has worsened, spreading southward. Analysts say that despite the deployment of troops and U.S. President Donald Trump's claims on the security crisis, little has changed on the ground. Last week, scores of people were abducted in the central region of the country.