Christopher Musa, Minister of Defence, has clarified that United States troops in Nigeria are present solely for “training assistance” and to provide an “advisory role.”
ENigeria Newspaper gathered this when Timothy Antigha, special adviser on media to the minister, in a statement, clarified that Musa made the remarks while chairing the maiden edition of the ‘Monthly Operational Briefing’ at the ministry’s conference room in Abuja on Wednesday.
“The Americans are in Nigeria on a purely training assistance and advisory role,” Musa said, assuring that the “armed forces of Nigeria will be in command of all operations conducted within the nation’s territory.”
During the briefing, the minister reviewed ongoing military operations, identified various national security threats, and offered strategic guidance to the armed forces.
“General Musa commended the professionalism, resilience, and gallantry of Nigerian troops and reaffirmed the commitment of his ministry to supporting troops’ welfare and improving the operational efficiency of the Armed Forces,” Antigha added.
The deployment of US ground troops to Nigeria came in February, following a new security cooperation agreement between the two nations. This arrangement was signed after Nigeria was redesignated as a ‘country of particular concern’ (CPC) by former US President Donald Trump.
Trump had previously threatened to send troops into Nigeria “guns-a-blazing to wipe out the terrorists killing our Christians.”
In December, the US conducted air strikes against two terrorist enclaves in Bauni Forest, Tangaza Local Government Area, Sokoto State.
The federal government has consistently rejected claims of systemic persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
