US will deploy 200 troops to Nigeria to assist in training the military of the African nation

The United States is set to deploy approximately 200 troops to Nigeria to assist in training the country’s military in combating Islamist militants, according to a U.S. official on Tuesday. This announcement comes weeks after President Donald Trump authorized airstrikes targeting what he referred to as Islamic State positions.

Last week, the U.S. military announced that it had deployed a small team of troops to Nigeria, although the exact number was not disclosed. This marks the first confirmation of U.S. forces being present on the ground since airstrikes were carried out by Washington on Christmas Day.

Trump has indicated the possibility of increased U.S. military involvement in Nigeria, and Reuters has reported that the U.S. has been carrying out surveillance flights over the country from Ghana since at least late November.

The official announced that 200 troops will be added to the small number of U.S. military personnel currently in Nigeria to assist local forces.

The U.S. Africa Command has yet to provide a response to the request for comment.

Nigeria is facing significant pressure from Washington following Trump’s claims that the West African nation is not adequately safeguarding Christians from Islamist militants active in the northwest.

The Nigerian government refutes claims of systematic persecution against Christians, asserting that its focus is on Islamist fighters and other armed groups responsible for attacks and killings of both Christians and Muslims.

Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters have escalated their assaults on military convoys and civilians, with the northwest continuing to be a focal point of a 17-year Islamist insurgency.

Nigeria has a population exceeding 230 million, with a fairly equal distribution between Christians, who are mainly found in the south, and Muslims, who are primarily located in the north.