The U.S. is completing the withdrawal of its military contingent from Nigeria

The Nigerian government has officially confirmed the start of the planned withdrawal of U.S. military forces, which had been stationed in the country to assist in the fight against terrorist groups and protect the Christian population. According to the Associated Press, a unit of about 200 troops is leaving the country.

U.S. troops were deployed to Nigeria in February of this year amid a sharp escalation of violence and allegations of genocide against Christians. During their deployment, U.S. forces trained Nigerian soldiers, gathered intelligence, and participated in a successful operation to eliminate one of the leaders of the ISIS terrorist organization.

Despite the withdrawal of troops, Nigerian Army Spokesperson Samaila Uba emphasized that the partnership between the two countries remains strong and that security cooperation will continue in other formats. The situation in the region remains challenging: despite the efforts of international forces, jihadist groups continue to attack civilians and carry out mass abductions. Earlier, the UN also expressed serious concern over the rise in violence targeting Christian women in this West African country.

As a reminder, at least 15 civilians were killed over the past week as a result of a series of coordinated attacks carried out by Fulani militants in Plateau State, Nigeria. Seven Christian settlements in Barkin Ladi District were attacked between September 21 and 25, 2026.