🚨 Fact Check: Has Donald Trump Sent Troops to Nigeria? Debunking the Invasion Rumour

 

A highly sensitive rumour has been circulating across social media and certain news outlets: that President Donald Trump has deployed a large military force to Nigeria. This claim, often accompanied by alarming photos, suggests a major, unilateral US military invasion to address internal security issues.

Let’s be absolutely clear: This claim is FALSE. The United States has NOT launched a military invasion or sent combat troops to Nigeria.

While the situation is far more nuanced than a simple "yes" or "no," it involves high-stakes diplomacy and strategic military planning. Here is the full breakdown of the rumour, the reality, and the ongoing relationship between the two nations.

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1. The Source of the Scare: Threats and Designations

The rumours began following strong statements made by President Donald Trump regarding the violence and alleged persecution of Christians in Nigeria.

• The Threat: Trump publicly designated Nigeria as a "Country of Particular Concern" and made explicit threats, saying the US "could" take military action or even go in “guns-a-blazing” if the alleged attacks did not stop.

• The Reality of Planning: These threats led to actual planning within the US Department of Defense (Pentagon) to explore options for intervention, which could range from targeted strikes to sanctions. This planning, however, does not equate to an actual deployment. The Nigerian government strongly rejected the characterization of religious persecution as a "gross misrepresentation of reality."

2. The Current Reality: Cooperation, Not Combat

Despite the inflammatory rhetoric, the actual security relationship between the US and Nigeria has moved in the direction of collaboration and partnership, not confrontation.

• Joint Working Group (UNJWG): The most significant development is the establishment of the USA-Nigeria Joint Working Group (UNJWG) on security. This official body was created following high-level meetings between a Nigerian delegation (led by the National Security Adviser) and US officials.

• Focus on Support: This joint group's mandate is to deepen security cooperation, enhance intelligence sharing, and expedite the processing of defence equipment requests. In short, the US is providing support, training, and specialized assets to help Nigerian forces combat insurgency groups like Boko Haram and others, but the actual boots on the ground remain Nigerian.

• The US Footprint: The US has long been a strategic partner, providing over $1.58 billion in security assistance since 1999, which includes the sale of A-29 Super Tucano aircraft and intelligence support. Covert intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) flights may be conducted to assist Nigerian forces, but this is a far cry from a full-scale invasion.

🛑 Conclusion: Check the Source, Not the Scare

Claims that US fighter jets or heavy military equipment have arrived in Port Harcourt or any other Nigerian city for an invasion are unsubstantiated and have been widely debunked by fact-checkers. The photos accompanying such claims are often old, unrelated images.

The narrative is clear: The Nigerian government insists on respect for its sovereignty while welcoming crucial intelligence and technical assistance. The US is currently acting as a partner, not an invader.

The major takeaway? Don't trust alarming social media posts. The US presence is focused on security assistance and coordination through the new Joint Working Group.