American Military flights touch down in Maiduguri, Kaduna

No fewer than three United States military aircraft landed in Nigeria between Thursday and Friday as part of ongoing security cooperation between both countries, findings have revealed.

The aircraft reportedly touched down at military facilities in Borno and other parts of the North-East, conveying ammunition and other logistics support to bolster Nigeria’s fight against insurgency.

Senior officers at the Defence Headquarters confirmed that the delivery followed recent Nigeria–US bilateral security talks.

A senior military officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the American government had agreed not only to deploy personnel but also to provide critical logistics, including ammunition, to support counter-insurgency operations.

Another high-ranking source described the delivery as part of routine operational replenishment, explaining that different calibres of ammunition used during operations must be replaced regularly.

He noted that US aircraft had supplied ammunition for Nigerian military platforms in the past, though he was not officially briefed on the specific flights.

The New York Times reported that US military aircraft landed in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, on Thursday night, with three aircraft visible at the base by Friday evening and equipment being offloaded from at least one plane.

A US Department of Defense official was quoted as saying the flights were the beginning of a stream of C-17 transport operations into three major locations across Nigeria.

On social media, an X account, @mobilisingniger, claimed that a US Air Force C-130J transport aircraft also landed at Kaduna International Airport after departing from Ghana, sparking speculation that the Kaduna Depot could serve as a training hub for US personnel working alongside Nigerian forces. Another X user, Brant Philip, who identified himself as a tracker, reported what he described as a large delivery of equipment to the Maiduguri Airbase, noting that multiple US aircraft followed similar routes from Accra, Ghana. As of the time of filing this report, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Michael Onoja, had not responded to enquiries.

The development comes amid reports that about 200 US intelligence analysts, advisers and trainers are expected to be deployed to Nigeria to support targeted counterterrorism operations. According to The New York Times, the first wave of personnel has already arrived, marking the start of a broader deployment anticipated in the coming weeks.

US President Donald Trump had earlier indicated in 2025 that the United States would take action if Nigeria failed to address what he described as genocide against Christians. Nigeria was subsequently designated a Country of Particular Concern, and the US reportedly conducted an airstrike on Islamic State fighters in Sokoto State on Christmas Day. Both countries have since intensified security engagements.

A retired officer of the Nigerian Army Intelligence Corps, Chris Andrew, said the presence of US personnel should not be interpreted as a combat deployment. He explained that their role would primarily focus on training Nigerian forces to conduct more precise operations, particularly through the use of advanced drone and air capabilities. He added that Nigeria’s recent air operations had improved following collaboration with the United States and suggested that relocating a US drone base to Nigeria, especially after the withdrawal of American forces from Niger, could enhance counterterrorism efforts.

Security expert Chidi Omeje described the deepening cooperation as the result of diplomatic engagement, noting that it was preferable to tension between both nations.

However, he stressed that Nigeria must retain full sovereignty in any arrangement, warning that foreign troops operating without consent or conducting unilateral strikes on Nigerian territory would be unacceptable.

He added that communities affected by terrorism were primarily concerned with restoring peace and stability, and would support any partnership that effectively curbs insecurity.

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