The initial wave of U.S. military personnel has touched down in Nigeria, kicking off a planned deployment of approximately 200 American troops focused on assisting Nigeria’s armed forces with targeted counterterrorism operations.

According to confirmed reports from U.S. and Nigerian officials, a U.S. military aircraft landed in Maiduguri, Borno State, on Thursday night. By Friday evening, three planes were visible at the base, with equipment actively being offloaded from at least one

These early arrivals mark the start of ongoing C-17 transport flights delivering troops, intelligence analysts, advisers, and trainers to three primary locations across the country.

Additional aircraft carrying personnel and gear are expected to continue arriving over the weekend and into the coming weeks.

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