The United States is operating MQ-9 Reaper drones in Nigeria in a strictly non-combat reconnaissance role, supporting Nigerian forces against jihadist groups, RFI reported on March 22. Based at Bauchi airfield, the drones collect intelligence, track militant movements and feed actionable data into a joint U.S.-Nigeria fusion cell, enhancing operational coordination while leaving combat entirely to Nigerian forces.

The United States increased security cooperation with Nigeria, including surveillance flights and a Dec. 25, 2025, strike on Islamic State West Africa Province-linked militants, following pressure on Abuja after Nigeria was redesignated a "country of particular concern " in November. In February, the United States deployed roughly 100 of a planned 200 troops to Bauchi to train, advise and share intelligence with local forces combating Jama'at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da'wah wa'l-Jihad, ISWAP and other armed militants, amid an increase in the lethality, frequency and scale of attacks.