The U.S. military has deployed multiple MQ-9 drones to Nigeria alongside 200 troops to facilitate training and intelligence gathering in the fight against terrorists in Africa’s most populous country.

Citing officials familiar with the matter, Reuters reported on Saturday that: “The U.S. military has multiple MQ-9 drones operating in Nigeria alongside 200 troops to provide training and intelligence support to the military, which is fighting Islamist militants across the north.”

The MQ-9 Reaper drone, also called Predator, can linger in the air for about 27 hours and is used for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), as well as precision airstrikes.

However, the report said that the MQ-9 Reaper drones deployed to Nigeria are for intelligence gathering and not for airstrikes.

According to Reuters, Major General Samaila Uba, Director of Defence Information at Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters, confirmed that the U.S. was operating assets from Bauchi airfield in the northeast.

“This support builds on the newly established U.S.-Nigeria intelligence fusion cell, which continues to deliver actionable intelligence to our ‌field commanders,” ⁠Mr Uba said. “Our U.S. partners remain in a strictly non-combat role, enabling operations led by Nigerian authorities.”

The deployment of MQ-9 drones and troops to Nigeria follows a U.S. military strike against terrorists in Sokoto on December 25, 2025.