By Muhammad Mamman
The first batch of United States troops, alongside five military aircraft, has arrived in north-east Nigeria, signalling a major escalation in preparations for a joint operation against Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
According to a report by The New York Times, a US military aircraft touched down late on Thursday in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, a region that has remained at the centre of insurgent activity for more than a decade.
By Friday evening, at least three aircraft were visible at the military base, with equipment being offloaded from one of the planes, the report said. The arrival marks the opening phase of a broader deployment expected to support Nigerian forces in an intensified campaign to degrade ISWAP’s operational capacity across the Lake Chad axis.
Security sources say the deployment is part of a coordinated strategy between Nigerian and American forces aimed at boosting aerial surveillance, intelligence gathering and ground operations in some of the most volatile areas of the country.
While Nigerian authorities are yet to issue a detailed official statement, the development underscores growing international involvement in Abuja’s fight against terrorism, as the government seeks to reclaim territory and stabilise communities repeatedly targeted by armed groups.
Residents in Maiduguri reported increased military activity around key installations, raising expectations that large-scale operations could commence in the coming days.
The renewed push comes amid mounting pressure on the Nigerian government to deliver tangible security gains, following a surge in attacks on civilians and security personnel across the north-east.
