US to withdraw about 200 troops from Nigeria by late September, keeps trainers

US plans to withdraw about 200 troops from Nigeria by late September 2026, according to a New York Times report. The forces were deployed early this year to help fight Islamist militants, but Washington says their specific mission has met its main objectives. Smaller teams of American trainers and intelligence personnel will remain to support Nigerian-led operations, and the US stresses that its security relationship with Nigeria continues.

The drawdown follows a February increase in US presence after rising security worries in the North-East. Joint US-Nigerian intelligence operations have already yielded results, including the Lake Chad Basin mission that killed Abu Bilal al-Minuki, described by US officials as a senior Islamic State figure and the group’s global second‑in‑command. Pentagon Africa Command spokesperson Colonel Becky Heyse called the approach effective, saying, "Our recent joint efforts in Nigeria are a prime example of how this tailored, temporary footprint can yield significant security returns."

For Nigerians, especially those in the North‑East affected by insurgency, the change means fewer American boots on the ground but continued advisory and training support. Monitoring how the remaining US teams operate and any shifts in local security dynamics will be important as the withdrawal proceeds.

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/08/28/insecurity-us-troops-set-to-leave-nigeria/