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The U.S. subject has sent MQ-9 Reaper drones to Nigeria, a U.S. defense charismatic reportedly told The Associated Press, arsenic fears are increasing of a renewed insurgency by nan violent group Boko Haram.
The drones were deployed aft 200 U.S. troops arrived successful Nigeria past period to supply training and intelligence. Nigeria, Africa’s astir populous country, is battling a complex information crisis, particularly successful nan northbound of nan country.
A spokesperson for AFRICOM, nan U.S. Africa Command, told nan AP that U.S. troops "are moving alongside their Nigerian counterparts to supply intelligence support, advisory assistance, and targeted training successful support of nan Nigerian Armed Forces."
Among nan astir salient Islamic militant groups progressive successful Nigeria are Boko Haram and its breakaway faction, which is affiliated pinch nan Islamic State and is known arsenic Islamic State West Africa Province, aliases ISWAP.
NIGERIA SUICIDE BOMBINGS KILL AT LEAST 23 PEOPLE, WOUND MORE THAN 100
A U.S. subject MQ-9 Reaper drone approaches for landing astatine Rafael Hernandez Airport successful Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, connected Dec. 29, 2025. (Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo/AFP via Getty Images)
There is besides nan ISIS-linked Lakurawa, arsenic good arsenic different "bandit" groups that specialize successful kidnapping for ransom and forbidden mining.
The U.S. troops and nan MQ-9 drones are based astatine Bauchi Airfield, a recently built airdrome successful nan northeast of nan country, nan spokesperson said to nan AP. The number of drones deployed remains unclear.
The deployment is portion of a caller information business agreed connected aft President Donald Trump sounded nan siren astir Christians being slaughtered successful Nigeria’s information crisis.
The U.S. launched strikes against IS forces connected Dec. 26 — nan time aft Christmas.
Earlier this month, 3 suspected termination bombings killed astatine slightest 23 group and wounded 108 others successful Maiduguri, nan superior of Borno authorities successful northeastern Nigeria. No group claimed responsibility, but suspicion quickly fell connected Boko Haram, which successful 2009 launched an insurgency successful northeastern Nigeria to enforce Sharia law.
100 US TROOPS LAND IN NIGERIA AS ISLAMIC MILITANTS THREATEN WEST AFRICA REGIONAL SECURITY
Residents and a motorcyclist move betwixt destroyed structures successful Offa connected Dec. 27, 2025, caused by debris from expended munitions that fell from U.S. strikes connected unspecified militants linked to nan Islamic State group successful Nigeria. (Abiodun Jamiu / AFP via Getty Images)
MQ-9 drones costs astir $30 cardinal apiece and person abstracted models for onshore and sea. They tin besides beryllium utilized to transportation out airstrikes, but AFRICOM says they will only beryllium utilized successful Nigeria for intelligence-gathering and training.
The Office of nan Director of National Intelligence says Boko Haram intends to "overthrow nan existent Nigerian Government and switch it pinch a authorities based connected Islamic law."
A policeman walks among protesters arsenic civilian nine groups and nan Nigeria Labour Congress clasp a serene protestation complete insecurity successful Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria, connected Dec. 17, 2025. (Adekunle Ajayi/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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"The U.S. State Department designated Boko Haram a Foreign Terrorist Organization successful November 2013," it added.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Greg Norman is simply a newsman astatine Fox News Digital.
