U.S. military aircraft arrived at the Nigerian Air Force base in Maiduguri, Borno State, between February 12 and 15, 2026. This deployment marks the first substantial “boots on the ground” presence of American forces in Nigeria in years.

The arrival is the “vanguard” of a broader mission to assist Nigeria in its fight against the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and other insurgent groups.

Arrival Timeline: The first aircraft touched down on Thursday night, February 12. By Sunday, February 15, multiple C-17 and C-130J transport planes had offloaded equipment and personnel across bases in Maiduguri, Kainji, and Kaduna.

Troop Numbers: Roughly 100 troops arrived in the first wave, with a total of 200 personnel expected in the coming weeks

Cargo: The planes delivered ammunition, tactical gear, and advanced communications equipment. There are reports that the mission may eventually include the deployment of MQ-9 Reaper drones and attack helicopters.

Nature of the Mission​Both U.S. and Nigerian officials have emphasized that this is a non-combat advisory mission.

Why Now?​The deployment follows a series of high-level meetings between President Bola Tinubu and U.S. officials. It also reflects a hardened stance from the Trump administration, which has prioritized addressing insecurity and religious persecution in the region, including direct U.S. airstrikes against militants in Sokoto back in December

Note: While the troops are currently in advisory roles, their presence at isolated sites in Borno indicates a “forward operational posture” aimed at tightening security in Nigeria’s most volatile rural areas