By Ebere Inyama
(Abuja) Following the withdrawal of most of its combat personnel from Nigeria in early July 2026 after a successful joint counterterrorism mission in the Northeastern part of Nigeria, the U.S government has reassured Nigerians that it will continue to partner with the country to tackle terrorism.
In a statement on 14 July 2026, the United States Assistant Secretary for African Affairs, Mr Frank Garcia, assured the Nigerian Defence Headquarters of continued U.S. support through enhanced defence cooperation, security assistance and sustained strategic dialogue.
Nigeria-US Security Partnership
The Nigeria-US security partnership is an active counter-terrorism and defence alliance that features a small U.S advisory and intelligence-sharing contingent collaborating with Nigerian forces in the northeast.
“The growing partnership between Nigeria and the United States reflects a shared determination to tackle security challenges through coordinated action”, said Presidential spokesman Sunday Dare on 9 June, 2026, during an X Space discussion featuring the spokesman of Defence Headquarters, Major General Samuel Uba, and the Director of Public Affairs at the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), Rebecca Heyse.
“Intelligence sharing and security collaboration between both countries remain critical to dismantling insurgent groups and criminal networks operating within the region, Dare added.
Implications for national security
“The joint counter-terrorism operations, which commenced on May 16, 2026, were based on months of deliberate planning and intelligence sharing between both countries and has led to the elimination of ISIS global second-in-command, Abu Bilal al-Minuki, alongside several key operational leaders”, said the Director of Public Affairs, AFRICOM, Col Rebecca Heyse.
According to her, more than 200 ISIS fighters were eliminated during the operations, while terrorist checkpoints, weapons caches, logistics hubs and training sites were destroyed.
Heyse attributed the success of the operations to close collaboration between Nigerian and U.S. military forces as well as intelligence support provided by relevant agencies.
Additional kinetic strikes conducted against ISIS in Northeastern Nigeria on 18 May, 2026, by U.S. Africa Command, in coordination with the government of Nigeria were also reportedly targeted at ISIS militants.
“From the Lake Chad Basin to the North East, our security partnership in the fight against terrorism has saved lives, protected communities and demonstrated what is possible when two nations stand shoulder to shoulder in defence of their people”, said the Chargé D’Affaires of the United States of America’s Embassy in Nigeria, Keith Heffern.
Security expert speaks
“Partnership between the Nigerian army and the U.S military over security matters is necessary especially at this point in time,” said veteran Nigerian military officer, Retired Sergeant Robert Inyama to TruthNigeria.
“Before the U.S soldiers pulled out from the Northeast, they gave adequate training to the Nigerian soldiers,” continued Inyama.
“What now remains is for the U.S government to supply the Nigerian troops with weapons to be used in the fight against terrorists”, Inyama added.
ISIS operations degraded
The strategic partnership between Nigeria and the United States has significantly degraded the operational capability of the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) and other terrorist groups, and destroyed their enclaves and logistics infrastructure, according to the Director of Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. Samaila Uba.
On 23 June, 2026, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) reportedly imposed sanctions on Lagos-based Mukhtar Adamu Muhammad and three bureaux de change linked to him over accusations of facilitating funds for ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria).
The three businesses sanctioned alongside Muhammad are Generation Currency Bureau De Change Limited and Nine to Nine Exchange Bureau De Change Limited, both based in Lagos State, as well as Manhattan Bureau De Change Limited in Kano State.
Announcing the sanctions, U.S. State Department spokesperson, Thomas Pigott, stated that the sanctions targeted a network spanning France, Turkiye, Syria and Nigeria that allegedly supports ISIS operations, finances attacks and assists the group’s affiliates.
“Under the leadership of President Trump, the United States is dismantling ISIS’s ability to finance terrorism around the world”, said Pigott.
“We are cutting off the financial lifelines that enable ISIS to fund attacks, support its regional affiliates, and threaten civilians, including religious minorities,” he added.
Ebere Inyama is a conflict reporter for TruthNigeria.
