US Moves Troops Into Nigeria Amid Escalating Violence Against Christians

The U.S. has deployed a contingent of troops to Nigeria as violence against Christian communities by Islamist militants continues to escalate.

U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) chief General Dagvin R.M. Anderson confirmed Tuesday that American military officers are now operating on the ground in Nigeria, according to Reuters. Nigeria has faced mounting pressure from the U.S. over its failure to protect Christian citizens from what President Donald Trump has described as an “existential threat” from Islamic militants.

Anderson said the deployment followed a meeting with Nigerian President Bola Tinubu in Rome late 2025, where both sides agreed more needed to be done to confront the region’s growing terrorist threat, the outlet reported.

“That has led to increased collaboration between our nations,” Anderson told reporters, explaining that the U.S. team brings “unique capabilities,” though he declined to specify when the personnel arrived or the size of the mission.

The deployment marks the latest step in the Trump administration’s expanding military engagement in Nigeria. In December, Trump ordered airstrikes against Islamic State–affiliated targets in the country and warned that additional U.S. action could follow.

At the time, Trump said the attack targeted “ISIS terrorist scum in northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians at levels not seen for many years, and even centuries.”

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has also stated that “either the Nigerian government protects Christians, or we will kill the Islamic terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities.”

Radical Islamist groups operating in northern Nigeria, including ISIS–West Africa, Boko Haram, and the Fulani ethnic militia, have carried out frequent murders, kidnappings and armed robberies, targeting Christians as well as nonradical Muslim communities. In late January, gunmen launched coordinated attacks on three churches in Kaduna State, abducting more than 150 worshippers, many of whom remain in captivity.

Trump has recently rolled out additional measures aimed at the perpetrators, including designating Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern and restricting visas for individuals accused of aiding militant groups. The administration cited the killing of at least 3,100 Christians by these militias.

Despite acknowledging the need to address rising terrorist violence, the Nigerian government has rejected claims of a Christian genocide, arguing that extremist groups target civilians regardless of religion.

“Our security cooperation efforts with Nigeria have been ongoing and we currently have a very small team there to advise and information share with our Nigerian partners,” an AFRICOM spokesperson told the Daily Caller News Foundation. “It is common for us to move people throughout the theater to support partners who share security interests. These activities are critical to enabling Nigeria’s operational independence.”