U.S. plans to withdraw about 200 troops from Nigeria by late September 2026

The United States is preparing to withdraw about 200 American troops from Nigeria.The soldiers were deployed earlier in 2026 to support efforts against Islamist militants. According to a New York Times report, the pull-out is expected to be completed by late September. Officials stressed that the move does not end the broader security partnership between the two countries.Smaller teams of American trainers and intelligence personnel will remain in Nigeria to continue supporting Nigerian-led operations.The deployment followed months of heightened security concerns and was expanded in February. US and Nigerian forces jointly conducted intelligence-led operations against extremist targets in the North-East, including action in the Lake Chad Basin that resulted in the killing of Abu Bilal al-Minuki, identified by US officials as a senior Islamic State figure and the group’s second-in-command globally.A spokesperson for the Pentagon’s Africa Command, Colonel Becky Heyse, described the approach as effective, saying: “Our recent joint efforts in Nigeria are a prime example of how this tailored, temporary footprint can yield significant security returns.”Washington concluded that the specific mission for which the larger contingent was sent had achieved its main objectives, prompting the planned withdrawal.    

The Pentagon plans to withdraw 200 troops from Nigeria by September 2026, citing significant results in combating ISIS, while smaller teams will remain to assist.