Collaboration With US Will Yield Results Soon, Says Defence Headquarters

The Defence Headquarters DHQ has assured Nigerians that its collaboration with the United States (US) troops would soon yield noticeable results despite increasing attacks by terrorists and bandits.

LEADERSHIP recalls that some American troops arrived in Nigeria on February 15, 2025, to support the military in the fight against insurgency.

The DHQ had said the deployment was not for combat but for the training of Nigerian troops.

At a press briefing yesterday in Abuja, the director, Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Micheal Onoja, said the US assistance included intelligence sharing and operational training aimed at enhancing the armed forces’ capacity to tackle emerging threats.

According to him, some aspects of the cooperation remain confidential due to the sensitivity of ongoing military operations.

He said that although the impact of the support may not be immediate, the assistance would soon translate into tangible outcomes on the ground.

The US’s involvement in our operations and security situation is quite significant. You are aware that they are bringing intelligence and training, which we need. And they are giving that to us at very favourable terms as well. There are many things I cannot say due to confidentiality.

“All we can say is that these things take time. You know there is a gestation period when we are conducting military operations. You will not see it immediately, but I’m sure in the next few months or weeks, you will feel the difference in the impact of the assistance that the US is providing. Just be assured that they are giving us adequate intelligence,” he said.

The military also assured Nigerians of heightened security during the Easter celebrations, noting that festive periods often entail security risks.

Onoja said the armed forces had placed personnel on alert nationwide to prevent any security breaches during the holiday period, adding that similar measures had been implemented during previous festive seasons, including Christmas and Sallah, and would be sustained.

He said security agencies would not relax despite the celebrations, noting that adversaries often attempt to exploit such periods.