The U.S. has just deployed about 100 troops to Nigeria to train the local military and provide support in counterterrorism operations, following earlier U.S. airstrikes on December 25 targeting Islamist militants. The goal is to help the Nigerian government confront armed groups responsible for thousands of deaths and abductions, including attacks on Christian communities by Islamic extremists.
Some human rights groups have issued statements expressing concern that an emphasis on protecting Christians could alienate some Muslims. They have also warned that there must be strict humanitarian oversight to ensure accountability and prevent abuses.
I have three questions for these groups:
- Where were they when thousands of Christians were murdered and thousands more abducted in Nigeria?
- What better proposal do they offer to protect Nigeria’s Christian communities from ongoing attacks?
- If they believe they have a more effective solution, why have they not implemented it?
First, Democrats said it was Republican misinformation that Christians in Nigeria were being killed, although this pattern of murder and abduction has been well documented going back at least a decade. Since 2015, an estimated 65,000 to 70,000 Christians have been killed and over 28,000 have been kidnapped in Nigeria, according to data collected and reported by Intersociety (International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law), Open Doors, and the Observatory of Religious Freedom in Africa (ORFA).
Then, when the U.S. bombed ISIS positions in Nigeria, Democrats claimed the U.S. was bombing Nigeria, insinuating that President Trump had attacked the country itself. In reality, the bombing was carried out with the permission of the Nigerian government, which also opposes ISIS.
Now that U.S. troops have landed, Democrats will likely claim that President Trump has invaded Nigeria. However, a statement by Major General Samaila Uba, Director of Defence Information for the Nigerian Defence Headquarters, officially released on Monday, February 16, 2026, makes clear that the deployment was at the “formal request” of the Nigerian government. The Defence Headquarters emphasized this point to counter any suggestion that the U.S. presence constitutes an invasion or occupation.
In its official release titled “Nigeria–U.S. Defence Cooperation: U.S. Military Trainers Arrive Nigeria to Support Nigerian Armed Forces,” the Defence Headquarters announced the arrival of about 100 U.S. military personnel and associated equipment at Bauchi Airfield, with the contingent expected to grow to roughly 200 in the coming weeks.
The deployment followed working-group discussions between Nigerian and U.S. defense delegations and was described as “planned and deliberate” after a formal request by the Federal Government of Nigeria for military training, technical support, and intelligence-sharing assistance. The Defence Headquarters said the collaboration will provide “specialized technical capabilities” to strengthen Nigeria’s ability to deter terrorist threats and protect vulnerable communities.
U.S. personnel are “technical specialists serving strictly in an advisory and training capacity” and “are not combat forces,” operating under the authority, direction, and control of the Nigerian government in close coordination with the Armed Forces of Nigeria. Nigerian troops and U.S. advisers will conduct joint training and intelligence-focused initiatives to improve the military’s ability to “identify and neutralize extremist terrorist groups,” including Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province, Lakurawa, Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin, and criminal bandit groups involved in mass kidnappings and illegal mining. Support also includes intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance assistance, as well as technical guidance related to U.S.-supplied A-29 Super Tucano aircraft and AH-1Z helicopters.
The deployment follows months of evolving U.S.-Nigeria security cooperation. In late 2025, President Trump raised concerns about violence against Christians and designated Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern.
On December 25, U.S. forces carried out airstrikes on ISIS-linked positions in Sokoto State with the approval of President Bola Tinubu. By early 2026, following high-level diplomatic discussions, the relationship shifted toward formalized partnership, culminating in Nigeria’s request for the current advisory deployment.
The targeted killing of Christians in Nigeria and the expansion of extremist groups such as Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) are widely described by international observers as a humanitarian crisis. The following data is drawn from reports by Intersociety, Open Doors, and the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom.
Nigeria has consistently ranked as the deadliest country in the world for Christians over the past decade. Globally, Nigeria accounts for approximately 72% to 89% of all Christians killed for their faith, according to the Open Doors 2026 World Watch List. Beyond killings, an estimated 14 million Christians have been displaced, and roughly 18,000 churches have been burned or destroyed since 2015. But the Democrats say it is not happening.
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