The United States has stepped up military assistance and intelligence cooperation with Nigeria as part of renewed efforts to counter Islamic State–linked militants operating in the country.
United States Army Lieutenant General John Brennan, Deputy Commander of the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), disclosed that Washington is increasing the supply of military equipment and intelligence sharing with Nigerian forces amid rising jihadist violence.
Brennan made the disclosure in an interview with AFP on the sidelines of a US–Nigeria security meeting held in Abuja last week.
According to him, the Pentagon has also maintained communication channels with military authorities in the junta-led Sahel countries of Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali, despite political tensions in the region.
The renewed engagement comes as jihadist attacks escalate across Nigeria, prompting increased pressure from Washington on Abuja to contain the violence and dismantle terror networks linked to the Islamic State.
Speaking on the direction of US counterterrorism policy under President Donald Trump, Brennan said the American military had adopted a more aggressive posture.
“We’ve gotten a lot more aggressive and are working with partners to target, kinetically, the threats — mainly ISIS,” he said.
Brennan noted that militant activities across Africa are interconnected, stretching from the Horn of Africa to West Africa, making a coordinated response necessary.
“From Somalia to Nigeria, the problem set is connected. So we’re trying to take it apart and then provide partners with the information they need,” he explained.
He added that the focus of US support has shifted toward enabling local forces with fewer operational restrictions, allowing them to deploy equipment and intelligence more effectively on the battlefield.
“It’s been about enabling partners and providing them equipment and capabilities with less restrictions so they can be more successful,” Brennan said.
Security analysts say the enhanced cooperation could significantly strengthen Nigeria’s counterterrorism operations, especially as Islamic State–affiliated groups expand their reach across the Lake Chad Basin and North-Western corridors.
As of press time, Nigerian defence authorities were yet to issue an official response to the renewed US support.
