February 15, 2026 | Maiduguri, Borno State and Kaduna
Three United States military aircraft carrying troops and equipment have reportedly arrived in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, marking the beginning of a new phase of security cooperation between Nigeria and the United States.
According to a report by The New York Times, the first aircraft landed on Thursday night, with officials from both countries confirming that an initial batch of approximately 100 U.S. troops would arrive over the weekend.
By Friday evening, three aircraft had reportedly touched down in Maiduguri, with military equipment seen being offloaded from at least one of the planes.
Deployment Details
A U.S. Defence Department official, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of operational details, told The New York Times that the arrivals mark the beginning of C-17 cargo plane deployments to three separate sites across Nigeria. Additional flights transporting personnel and equipment are expected in the coming weeks.
Earlier reports by The Wall Street Journal indicated that the United States plans to deploy up to 200 troops to Nigeria as part of the security arrangement.
Nigerian Military Response
The spokesperson for Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters, Major General Samaila Uba, clarified that the U.S. personnel would not engage in combat operations.
“These personnel do not serve in a combat capacity and will not assume a direct operational role,” Uba told The New York Times. “Nigerian forces retain full command authority, make all operational decisions and will lead all missions on Nigerian sovereign territory.”
He further explained that the deployment followed recommendations from a joint U.S.-Nigeria working group, and that the troops would serve in advisory and support capacities at multiple locations.
Broader Context
The deployment comes amid ongoing security challenges in Nigeria’s northeastern region, particularly in Borno State, which has faced prolonged insurgency and militant attacks.
It also follows months of diplomatic pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump, who has publicly criticised Nigeria’s government over security concerns, including attacks affecting Christian communities.
What This Means
While Nigerian authorities maintain that sovereignty and operational command remain fully under Nigerian control, the arrival of U.S. military personnel signals a renewed level of bilateral security collaboration aimed at strengthening counterterrorism efforts and intelligence support.
VOS TV News will continue to monitor developments and provide updates as more information becomes available.
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