The United States has stepped up its support for Nigeria’s fight against Islamist insurgents by deploying several MQ-9 drones and about 200 military personnel to the country, according to a Reuters report.
Officials from both nations explained that the U.S. troops are primarily tasked with providing training and intelligence assistance to Nigerian forces. They are not directly involved in frontline combat operations.
The drones, meanwhile, are being used strictly for surveillance and intelligence-gathering purposes, with no role in carrying out airstrikes, the officials added.