In a move to bolster regional security, the United States Africa Command ( AFRICOM ) announced on Tuesday, January 13, the delivery of strategic military equipment to Nigeria. This aid comes amid escalating tensions and follows direct U.S. air strikes on Nigerian soil.

A partnership under diplomatic strain

This delivery of equipment to Abuja marks a key step in security cooperation between the two nations. According to Africom, these supplies are intended to support current field operations.

This rapprochement follows a period of intense diplomatic pressure. Last October, the Trump administration strongly criticized Abuja's security management, going so far as to suggest a "genocide" against the Christian population — accusations firmly rejected by the Nigerian government and several independent observers.

Unprecedented strikes in the Northwest

American involvement took an offensive turn on December 25th. MQ-9 Reaper drones launched 16 guided missiles into the Bauni forest (Sokoto State).

1. The target: Fighters affiliated with the Islamic State.
2. The area: The Northwest, an unusual sector for this type of strike, as the jihadist insurgency is traditionally located in the Northeast.
3. The explanation: According to Nigerian authorities, these targets belonged to a terrorist group from the Sahel.

Towards a new air strategy

The security agreement between Washington and Abuja is now entering a phase of increased technical collaboration. While the Nigerian government is not ruling out further US interventions, the strategy appears to be evolving.

The Nigerian air force now plans to use data from US reconnaissance flights to direct its own strikes, thus prioritizing operational autonomy supported by allied intelligence.

Since 2009, Nigeria has faced a dual threat: the historic jihadist insurgency in the east and the emergence of powerful criminal gangs, nicknamed "bandits", which are destabilizing rural areas in the center and northwest of the country.