US delivers military equipment to Nigeria

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—Support targets counterterrorism operations

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The United States has delivered military equipment to the Nigerian Air Force in Lagos and Kainji, Niger State, to support counterterrorism operations.

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The US Africa Command (AFRICOM), in a statement on its website on Thursday, said the equipment was delivered in September through a US Air Force C-17 aircraft.

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According to the command, the delivery was part of a foreign military sales agreement between the United States and Nigerian militaries.

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“The delivery furthers the strategic partnership between the two nations in order to enhance Nigerian-led efforts to counter terrorism in the region. U.S. military support to the Armed Forces of Nigeria is by its invitation and rooted in respect for Nigerian sovereignty,” AFRICOM said.

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The development comes weeks after the AFRICOM Commander, Gen. Dagvin Anderson, announced a reduction in the number of US troops deployed to Nigeria following a May operation that killed Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, identified by US officials as the second-in-command of ISIS, in the Lake Chad Basin.

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American and Nigerian officials had described the relatively small US deployment in Nigeria as having produced significant results.

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However, small teams of US trainers and intelligence analysts are expected to remain in Nigeria after the larger contingent is withdrawn by late September.

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The report also quoted American officials as describing the deployment in Nigeria as a potential model for future US counterterrorism operations in Africa.

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