The Pentagon is preparing to withdraw approximately 200 U.S. troops deployed to Nigeria for counterterrorism operations, with the bulk of the contingent expected to depart by late September 2026, according to a report published Thursday, August 27, by The New York Times.
​The military personnel were deployed to northeastern Nigeria in February 2026 to assist local forces in fighting militant groups operating in the region and across the Lake Chad Basin.
Though relatively small in size, U.S. and Nigerian officials noted that the deployment achieved significant results, including a pivotal joint operation in May that resulted in the death of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, identified as the second-in-command of ISIS in the Lake Chad Basin.
​While the main combat contingent will wind down its mission, small specialized teams of American military trainers and intelligence analysts will remain in Nigeria on a continuing basis.
​Departures have already begun incrementally, with the primary withdrawal scheduled for completion by late September 2026. Small support units providing intelligence sharing and technical training will stay behind at the Northeastern Nigeria and the broader Lake Chad Basin region.
