Nigeria Confirms Drawdown of About 200 U.S. Personnel as Security Ties Continue

Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters confirmed that about 200 U.S. personnel will be withdrawn from the country, describing the change as an evolution of a mission tied to specific counterterrorism objectives. Maj. Gen. Samaila Uba told a joint security briefing in Abuja that the drawdown does not end the bilateral partnership. He said intelligence cooperation, training, information-sharing, technical assistance and other professional military cooperation will continue. Uba said Nigeria retains primary responsibility for national defense and civilian protection, while jointly assessed interventions, including strikes, could still be carried out.