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A former senior Nigerian military officer has cautioned the public against expecting United States troops recently deployed to Nigeria to engage bandits or terrorist groups directly on the battlefield, stressing that responsibility for defeating insurgency rests squarely with Nigeria’s armed forces.
Major General Ijioma N. Ijioma (retd), a former Director of Operations at Army Headquarters, made the remarks amid heightened public debate following the arrival of a small contingent of U.S. troops in the country last week. The deployment has raised expectations among Nigerians frustrated by years of persistent insecurity, including banditry, terrorism, and kidnappings across several regions.
U.S. officials have described the mission as part of deeper security cooperation between Washington and Abuja, but have provided limited details about its scope, fueling speculation about the role the American forces will play.
The deployment was confirmed by General Dagvin R. M. Anderson, Commander of the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), who said the team would bring “unique capabilities” as part of expanded collaboration between both countries to address terrorism.
According to Anderson, the deployment followed discussions between Nigerian and U.S. officials who agreed that additional efforts were needed to confront extremist threats. However, he did not disclose the size of the team or the precise duration of the mission.
Security officials familiar with similar AFRICOM deployments across Africa have said such missions typically focus on intelligence support, training, logistics, and operational planning rather than direct combat. Reuters and the Associated Press have reported that the U.S. has adopted a “by, with, and through” strategy on the continent, enabling local forces rather than leading frontline operations.
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Speaking on the development, Gen. Ijioma said Nigerians should not assume that American troops would fight Nigeria’s battles, warning that misplaced expectations could distract from the real issue: political resolve.
“The U.S. troops are not going to deploy on the battlefield to fight Nigeria’s war,” he said. “Whether we like it or not, the responsibility of eliminating militants rests with the Nigerian Armed Forces.”
He emphasized that the role of U.S. forces would be limited to training, intelligence sharing, and technical or logistical support, adding that this arrangement is consistent with international military cooperation norms.
According to him, foreign assistance becomes effective only when the host country demonstrates clear commitment and political will.
Gen. Ijioma accused Nigeria’s leadership of failing to show sufficient determination in confronting banditry and terrorism, arguing that the persistence of insecurity is not due to lack of military capability.
“If the Federal Government had handled the 1967 Biafran insurgency with the same kid gloves being used against bandits and Boko Haram today, there would have been a Biafra Republic by now,” he said, referring to the Nigerian civil war.
He urged Nigerians to demand answers from political leaders on why armed groups continue to operate with apparent impunity despite years of military spending and foreign support.
“The United States does not risk the lives of its soldiers for nothing,” he added, questioning what agreements or understandings underpin the renewed security cooperation.
The retired general also pointed to Nigeria’s air force capabilities, questioning why decisive action has not been taken despite the availability of combat aircraft.
“The strike the U.S. carried out in Sokoto and Kwara — is there anywhere our fighter jets could not have bombed?” he asked. “There is no place within Nigeria that our aircraft cannot reach.”
According to him, the fact that such operations are not routinely conducted underscores a lack of political resolve rather than military limitations.
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He further contrasted the government’s response to insecurity at home with its swift action abroad, recalling Nigeria’s intervention in neighboring Benin Republic during an attempted coup.
“Fighter jets went to Benin Republic. Our troops physically went there on the President’s order,” he said. “What does that tell you? It tells you there is no political will.”
Gen. Ijioma noted that collaboration between Nigeria and the United States dates back decades and is not unprecedented. He recalled that during former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s first term, U.S. military personnel were embedded within Nigeria’s defense establishment.
“At that time, American personnel occupied the entire third floor of Defence Headquarters,” he said. “The Americans visited troop locations, mapped Nigerian barracks and equipment holdings.”
He added that the arrangement was strongly opposed by the late General Victor Malu, then Chief of Army Staff, who believed the level of access undermined Nigeria’s sovereignty. The disagreement, he said, ultimately led to Malu’s removal.
Analysts have since noted that Nigeria’s security partnerships with Western allies have oscillated over the years, shaped by concerns about sovereignty, intelligence sharing, and human rights compliance.
Adding to the discussion, a retired Deputy Inspector General of Police, Goodwin Nwobodo, said the success of the collaboration depends largely on Nigeria’s willingness to play an active and transparent role. “We must be ready to make a meaningful contribution,” Nwobodo said. “In the past, the U.S. complained that they could not work with Nigerian troops because they lacked confidence in intelligence sharing.”
According to him, trust and credibility are essential if technical support from the U.S. is to be effective. “If confidence exists this time, collaboration can work,” he said. “But they can only assist us with technical know-how.”
Nwobodo also stressed that Nigeria’s security crisis cannot be resolved by a small foreign contingent, warning against unrealistic expectations. “According to international law, they are here to support Nigeria,” he explained. “They cannot operate without our consent unless there is a full-blown intervention, which would create serious complications.”
Responding to questions about why U.S. troops require Nigerian approval while armed groups do not, he said the distinction lies in legality. “Bandits are lawless. That is why they are bandits,” he said. “But the U.S. is here to assist, not to violate Nigeria’s sovereignty.”
For now, security experts say expectations surrounding the U.S. deployment should be tempered. While intelligence and training support may enhance Nigeria’s operational effectiveness, the ultimate outcome will depend on domestic leadership, strategy, and accountability. As Gen. Ijioma put it, foreign assistance “should not have been necessary” if decisive action had been taken earlier.
