A significant buildup of United States military assets has been reported in Nigeria over the past week, signalling preparations for a potential US-backed offensive against the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in the country’s northeast.
Between February 6 and 14, six US Air Force cargo planes touched down in West Africa, initially stopping in Accra, Ghana. Five of these aircraft later landed at Nigerian Air Force bases, while the sixth arrived in Nigeria today and is expected to follow a similar route toward northeastern operations.
Reported landings include:
1x C-17A at Kainji Airbase
1x C-130J-30 at Maiduguri Airbase, Borno
3x C-17A at Maiduguri Airbase, Borno
All aircraft reportedly departed their respective bases on the same day of arrival.
Maiduguri Airbase is expected to serve as the primary operational hub supporting the Nigerian Army against ISWAP, which currently controls large swaths of rural Borno State. The scale and type of equipment delivered suggest the deployment of heavy military assets, possibly including MQ-9 Reaper drones, attack helicopters, and a substantial contingent of US personnel.
On February 10, both American and Nigerian officials confirmed to the Wall Street Journal that 200 US troops were scheduled to be deployed to Nigeria in support of counter-insurgency operations.
The deployment highlights growing US-Nigerian military collaboration aimed at weakening ISWAP’s hold in northeastern Nigeria and restoring regional security.
