The United States (US) has withdrawn most of its forces deployed for a joint counterterrorism operation in Nigeria’s Lake Chad Basin.

However, the country continues intelligence sharing and other forms of security cooperation with Nigeria.

The Commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa, Gen Dagvin R.M. Anderson, disclosed this during a digital press briefing on the outcome of the African Chiefs of Defence Conference 2026, where he highlighted the role of U.S.-Nigeria intelligence cooperation in counterterrorism operations against the Islamic State (ISIS/Daesh).

He explained that while the specific military operation had ended and most U.S. personnel involved had left, Washington remained committed to supporting Nigeria through intelligence collaboration at the request of the Nigerian government.

“And so that operation in the Lake Chad Basin of Nigeria not only helped the countries in that immediate region; it also helps countries globally as that disrupts the ISIS network,” Anderson said.

“Then, we have withdrawn much of our forces that were just there for that operation, but we are continuing the partnership that Nigeria has asked for to help continue with the intelligence sharing and the understanding that’s necessary to be able to prosecute these difficult tasks,” he added.

The U.S. general described Nigeria as a capable partner with a strong military, adding that the cooperation between both countries had yielded significant results against ISIS.

According to him, U.S. intelligence support, combined with Nigerian military efforts, led to a successful operation against the second-in-command of the ISIS global network.

“I think the partnership that we’ve shown recently with Nigeria, where Nigeria’s a very capable and large country — it’s got a strong economy; it’s got a large, educated population; it’s got a very capable military.

“But there are things that we have learned in the counterterrorist fight over several years that we were able to assist and integrate with them to help them with their intelligence and help with the intelligence sharing that eventually led to a cooperative effort to where we were able to bring some unique capabilities that the U.S. brings and be able to prosecute together the number two leader within the ISIS or Daesh organisation who is responsible for much of their global operations, their global media, and their recruiting.”

Anderson stressed that the success of the operation demonstrated the value of intelligence cooperation rather than long-term foreign military deployments.

“So I think as we go forward, that is an example of how we’re looking at engaging with partners to help them be more effective by only bringing unique U.S. capabilities that allow the partner to be effective in these fights,” he said.

He also advocated stronger intelligence sharing among African countries to combat terrorism, illicit trafficking and other transnational crimes.

According to him, effective communication and established partnerships recently contributed to the interception of a record 31-tonne cocaine shipment originating from South America and transiting along the West African coast.

“I was able to coordinate through our interagency in the United States, through AFRICOM, and then notify some of the partners.

“And eventually it was a Spanish ship that interdicted the ship that had 31 tonnes of cocaine on it, and it turns out to be the largest interdiction of drugs on the sea that we’ve ever seen,” Anderson said.

He added that sustained cooperation among African countries, international partners and the private sector would remain critical to addressing security threats while promoting economic stability and investment across the continent.

The United States deployed about 200 military personnel to Nigeria in February 2026 to support intelligence, surveillance and counterterrorism operations in the Lake Chad Basin.

The deployment came amid growing security cooperation between Washington and Abuja in the fight against ISIS and other terrorist groups operating in the region.

The troop deployment followed the redesignation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern by U.S. President Donald Trump, who had vowed to intensify U.S. support against terrorist groups operating in the country.

On December 25, 2025, the U.S. carried out air strikes on two terrorist enclaves in the Bauni Forest in Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

The partnership culminated in May 2026 when a joint U.S.-Nigerian operation killed Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki, the second-in-command of ISIS, at his hideout in Borno State.

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The Federal Government has announced that another 271 Nigerians affected by the recent xenophobic protests in South Africa will arrive in Lagos today (Friday) as the ongoing evacuation exercise continues.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement issued on Thursday by its spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, said the latest batch would bring the government closer to completing the evacuation of Nigerians who voluntarily registered to return home.

According to the ministry, the third evacuation flight is expected to land at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, at about 5:30 a.m. on Friday, July 3, 2026, with 271 returnees on board.

The ministry disclosed that a total of 593 Nigerians have already been evacuated from South Africa in previous operations.

It explained that the first batch of 258 evacuees arrived in Lagos on June 11 aboard a special Air Peace flight and were received by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Amb Sola Enikanolaiye, on behalf of the Federal Government before being handed over to relevant ministries, departments and agencies for documentation and profiling.

The ministry said logistical challenges delayed the second evacuation flight, resulting in some Nigerians being temporarily accommodated at the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria, where they were cared for by the mission.

It added that a Nigerian philanthropist voluntarily paid the airfare for 66 of the stranded nationals, who returned to Lagos on June 24, while another 269 evacuees arrived on June 30 through the second government-arranged evacuation flight.

The ministry said three additional evacuation flights would be operated in the coming days to bring home about 700 more Nigerians who had voluntarily registered, been screened and cleared for evacuation.

Addressing allegations that officials of the Nigerian Mission demanded money from intending evacuees, the ministry dismissed the claims.

It stated, “For the avoidance of doubt, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to place on record that all the special evacuation flights are fully paid for by the Federal Government and at no cost to the returnees.

“This clarification is necessitated by insinuations and false allegations that some staff of the Nigerian Mission were requesting money before enlisting our nationals for the evacuation flights. That is totally false, fake news, and should be discarded.”

The ministry also commended the cooperation of relevant ministries, departments and agencies involved in the exercise.

It said, “The ministry appreciates the very positive coordination and collaboration with relevant MDAs in making this process a success, and we will continue to work together for the good of our country.”

Reaffirming the government’s commitment to Nigerians abroad, the ministry added, “The evacuation process clearly underscores the priority accorded to the protection of Nigerian citizens overseas, which remains a central pillar of Nigeria’s foreign policy and a core responsibility of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“It also reflects the Government’s determination to ensure that Nigerians affected by crises abroad receive the necessary support, dignity, and care.

“The lives of Nigerians living abroad matter, and we are trying our best as a Ministry to give them a sense of belonging.”

South Africa has in recent days witnessed a renewed wave of anti-illegal immigration protests and sporadic unrest, beginning around June 30, 2026, in parts of major urban centres and migrant-heavy communities.

The demonstrations have been driven largely by groups demanding stricter enforcement of immigration laws, accusing undocumented foreign nationals of worsening unemployment, crime and pressure on public services.

While the protests initially began as organised street demonstrations and community marches, they reportedly escalated in some areas into violent confrontations and looting incidents targeting foreign-owned shops and residences.

Authorities in South Africa have maintained that the protests are aimed at illegal migration rather than specific nationalities, but in practice, foreign nationals from several African countries have again been caught up in the tensions, prompting concern from affected governments and renewed evacuation efforts by diplomatic missions.

The current unrest has also revived longstanding concerns about xenophobic violence in South Africa, which has surfaced intermittently over the past decade during periods of economic strain and heightened political rhetoric around migration control.

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