The United States has delivered military equipment to the Nigerian Air Force in Lagos and Kainji, Niger State, to assist with counterterrorism efforts.
 |
Support Aims to Boost Counterterrorism Operations |
The US Africa Command (AFRICOM), stated on its website on Thursday that the equipment was delivered in September via a US Air Force C-17 aircraft.
According to the command, the delivery is part of a foreign military sales agreement between the United States and Nigeria.
“The delivery furthers the strategic partnership between the two nations to strengthen Nigerian-led efforts against terrorism in the region. U.S. military support to the Armed Forces of Nigeria is given by invitation and respects Nigerian sovereignty,” AFRICOM said.
This development comes weeks after AFRICOM Commander Gen. Dagvin Anderson announced a reduction in the number of US troops deployed to Nigeria, following a May operation that killed Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, identified by US officials as ISIS’s second-in-command, in the Lake Chad Basin.
American and Nigerian officials have described the relatively small US deployment in Nigeria as yielding significant results.
However, small teams of US trainers and intelligence analysts are expected to stay in Nigeria after the larger force is withdrawn by late September.
The report also cites American officials as describing the deployment in Nigeria as a potential model for future US counterterrorism efforts in Africa.
Post a Comment