US Bolsters Military Support To Nigeria Against IS-Linked Militants

According to military sources, the United States is ramping up the delivery of equipment and intelligence to Nigeria as part of an expanded effort to support African forces in countering Islamic State-linked militant groups. The announcement was made by Lt.-Gen. John Brennan, Deputy Commander of US Africa Command, during an interview on the sidelines of a US–Nigeria security meeting held in Abuja last week.

Brennan explained that Washington has adopted a more assertive strategy to target IS-affiliated groups across the continent. “From Somalia to Nigeria, the threat is connected. We are working with partners to dismantle these networks and provide them with the necessary intelligence,” he said.

The US is focusing on empowering Nigerian forces by supplying equipment and operational capabilities with fewer restrictions to enhance their effectiveness. The joint military cooperation follows US air strikes on IS-linked targets in northwestern Nigeria over the Christmas period.

Brennan said future support would prioritize intelligence sharing to assist Nigerian air operations in both the northwest and northeast, where Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) continue to operate. He described ISWAP as “our most concerning group.”

While the renewed collaboration coincides with calls from Washington to protect Christians in Nigeria, Brennan emphasized that US intelligence support is intended to safeguard all communities affected by insurgency. Analysts have noted an increase in US intelligence flights over Nigeria but question whether air support alone can dismantle entrenched militant networks in regions marked by poverty and limited government presence.

The initial US strikes reportedly targeted fighters linked to the Islamic State Sahel Province, active mainly in neighboring Niger. Brennan highlighted the growing concern of IS-linked groups spreading from the Sahel into coastal West Africa, including Nigeria.

Despite the closure of the US drone base in Agadez, Niger, Brennan confirmed that Washington has no plans to establish new permanent military bases in West Africa, focusing instead on delivering targeted capabilities as needed. The US continues to share intelligence with regional militaries, including those of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, even where formal cooperation with Western partners has been limited.

Nigeria’s Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, described the operation as “still a work in progress,” underscoring the ongoing nature of the bilateral military efforts.