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Nigeria Says US Troop Drawdown Will Not Weaken Security Partnership
🇳🇬 Nigeria /Conflict & Security

Nigeria Says US Troop Drawdown Will Not Weaken Security Partnership

From Premium Times · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters said a planned US drawdown of more than 200 personnel will not weaken bilateral security cooperation.
  • Intelligence sharing, training, information exchange and other military cooperation will continue after the adjustment.
  • Major General Samaila Uba said Nigerian forces retain primary responsibility for national defence, while the military will continue operations against terrorists and armed groups.

Nigeria’s military is urging the public not to interpret the planned withdrawal of more than 200 US personnel as a collapse in bilateral security cooperation. Defence Headquarters said the drawdown reflects the specific operational and counter-terrorism aims attached to the deployment.

Major General Samaila Uba, the director of defence information, said in Abuja that the relationship remains “strong, enduring and mutually beneficial.” He said intelligence cooperation, training, information sharing and other forms of professional military cooperation would continue despite the smaller US presence.

Uba stressed that Nigeria’s security forces bear primary responsibility for defending the country and protecting its citizens. The US partnership, he said, is intended to strengthen Nigerian capabilities through intelligence sharing, training and technical assistance. Joint operations, including strikes, could take place when both countries assess that additional action is needed.

The relationship between Nigeria and the United States remains strong, enduring and mutually beneficial.

— Samaila UbaNigeria’s director of defence information described the bilateral security relationship after the planned US troop drawdown.

He described the fight against terrorists and other armed groups as the military’s main responsibility. “Our major job is kinetic operations. As much as possible, we want to take down all the terrorists in Nigeria, or anybody who takes up arms against citizens,” Uba said.

The military will also support non-kinetic initiatives under a broader whole-of-society and whole-of-nation approach. Uba said that support would not alter the military’s opposition to dialogue with terrorists or ransom payments. He added that some such initiatives are led by state authorities, while the military provides assistance when required. The police remain the lead agency for internal security, with the armed forces supporting the Nigeria Police Force.

Our major job is kinetic operations. As much as possible, we want to take down all the terrorists in Nigeria, or anybody who takes up arms against citizens.

— Samaila UbaUba outlined the military’s primary focus in addressing terrorism and armed groups.
About this summary

Originally published by Premium Times in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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