The United States has withdrawn most of its troops deployed to Nigeria for a joint counterterrorism operation in the Lake Chad Basin but will continue intelligence sharing and other security cooperation with the Nigerian government.
The Commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa, General Dagvin R.M. Anderson, disclosed this on Thursday during a digital press briefing on the outcome of the African Chiefs of Defence Conference 2026.
According to Anderson, the operation in the Lake Chad Basin significantly disrupted the activities of the Islamic State (ISIS/Daesh) and contributed to global counterterrorism efforts. 
“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,” he said.
He explained that although the specific mission had ended and most of the U.S. personnel involved had departed Nigeria, Washington remained committed to supporting Abuja through intelligence collaboration and strategic partnerships.
“And so — and then we have withdrawn much of our forces that were just there for that operation, but are continuing the partnership that Nigeria has asked for to help continue with the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,” Anderson added.
The U.S. general described Nigeria as a capable ally with a strong military and noted that cooperation between both countries had produced significant gains against ISIS.
He revealed that intelligence sharing between the United States and Nigeria, combined with military operations by Nigerian forces, led to the successful elimination of the second-in-command of the global ISIS network.
“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 organization who is responsible for much of their global operations, their global media, and their recruiting,” he said.
Anderson stressed that the success of the operation underscored the importance of intelligence cooperation rather than prolonged foreign military 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 stated.
He also called for stronger intelligence sharing among African countries to combat terrorism, illicit trafficking and other transnational crimes.
According to him, enhanced cooperation recently helped authorities intercept a record 31-ton shipment of cocaine originating from South America and transiting along the West African coast.
“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 tons of cocaine on it, and it turns out is the largest interdiction of drugs at sea that we’ve ever seen,” Anderson said.
He added that sustained cooperation among African nations, international partners and the private sector remains essential to addressing security threats and creating a stable environment for economic growth and investment.
The United States deployed about 200 military personnel to Nigeria in February 2026 to support intelligence, surveillance and counterterrorism operations in the Lake Chad Basin amid deepening security cooperation between Washington and Abuja.
The deployment followed Nigeria’s redesignation as a Country of Particular Concern by U.S. President Donald Trump, who pledged to intensify American support against terrorist groups operating in the country.
On December 25, 2025, the United States carried out air strikes on two terrorist enclaves in the Bauni Forest in Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
The partnership reached a major milestone 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.
