US Troop Departure Is Not the End of Security Ties, Says Nigerian Defense Headquarters

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has clarified that the planned withdrawal of about 200 United States military personnel from Nigeria does not signify a breakdown or termination of the security partnership between the two countries.

The clarification was made on Tuesday by the spokesperson for the Defence Headquarters, Samaila Uba, during a security briefing organised by the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC).

Uba said the military had received several inquiries from journalists seeking clarification on reports of the planned withdrawal of the US personnel from Nigeria.

He explained that the development should not be interpreted as an indication that Nigeria and the United States are ending their longstanding security cooperation.

“The Armed Forces of Nigeria wishes to clarify that the reported withdrawal of about 200 United States personnel should not be interpreted as a breakdown or termination of the Nigeria-United States security partnership,” Uba said.

The clarification followed a report by The New York Times last week on the planned withdrawal of the US personnel.

However, in July, PREMIUM TIMES reported that the commander of the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), Dagvin Anderson, had disclosed that “much of our forces” had already been withdrawn.

Despite the reported troop reduction, the DHQ maintained that Nigeria’s security cooperation with the United States remains intact.

The two countries have continued to collaborate on counter-terrorism, intelligence sharing, military training and other security-related operations.