The United States is set to withdraw about 200 American troops deployed to Nigeria as part of efforts to support the country’s fight against Islamist militants.

The withdrawal is expected to be completed by late September 2026, according to a report by The New York Times.

However, the report said the planned troop withdrawal would not mark the end of the security partnership between Washington and Abuja.

Instead, smaller teams of American military trainers and intelligence personnel are expected to remain in Nigeria to provide support for Nigerian-led counterterrorism operations.

The US troops were deployed earlier in 2026 following growing security concerns and were involved in intelligence-led operations against extremist targets, particularly in the North-East.

As part of the collaboration, US and Nigerian forces conducted an operation in the Lake Chad Basin that resulted in the killing of Abu Bilal al-Minuki, whom US officials identified as a senior Islamic State figure and the group’s second-in-command globally.

A spokesperson for the Pentagon’s Africa Command, Colonel Becky Heyse, described the joint operations as an effective model of military cooperation.

“Our recent joint efforts in Nigeria are a prime example of how this tailored, temporary footprint can yield significant security returns,” she said.

According to The New York Times, the planned withdrawal followed Washington’s assessment that the larger contingent had achieved the primary objectives of the specific mission for which it was deployed.

The United States had increased its military presence in Nigeria in February amid mounting security concerns, with American and Nigerian forces subsequently intensifying cooperation on intelligence gathering and targeted operations against extremist groups in the North-East.

Despite the planned drawdown, the continued presence of US trainers and intelligence personnel is expected to preserve key areas of security cooperation between both countries.