(Adnkronos) – The United States will send 200 soldiers to Nigeria to train the African country’s army in the fight against Islamist militants, weeks after President Donald Trump accused the Nigerian government of failing to protect Christians from terrorist attacks. The Wall Street Journal reported this, citing an American military official.
The troops – according to US and Nigerian sources – will join the small contingent already present in the country to help local forces identify targets for targeted attacks through the use of intelligence. The US military, which will not be directly involved in combat operations, will provide training and technical support, helping Nigerian forces, among other things, to coordinate joint ground and air operations, at the request of the local government.
According to a spokesperson for the United States Africa Command, “terrorist activity in West Africa – and in Nigeria in particular – is a matter of great concern. We want to collaborate with capable and willing partners to address these common challenges.”
