US troops won’t fight Nigeria’s war directly, retired general warns
By SUMAYYAH ADEFAKA
A former Director of Operations at the Army Headquarters, Major General Ijioma N. Ijioma (retd), has cautioned Nigerians against expecting United States troops recently deployed to the country to engage terrorists and bandits directly on the battlefield.
The warning follows the arrival of a few team of US troops in Nigeria last week as part of renewed military collaboration between Abuja and Washington to combat terrorism. The Head of the US Military’s Africa Command (AFRICOM), General Dagvin R. Anderson, said the deployment brings “unique capabilities” aimed at strengthening joint efforts against insurgent groups, though details of the mission were not disclosed.
Speaking on the development, Major General Ijioma said the US troops would be limited to intelligence, training and technical support, insisting that the responsibility of defeating insurgents rests squarely on the Nigerian Armed Forces.
“The United States is not coming here to fight Nigeria’s war. Only Nigerian troops can defeat bandits and terrorists,” he said, accusing Nigeria’s leadership of lacking the political will to decisively confront insecurity.
The retired general argued that if the Federal Government had handled the current insurgency with the same determination used during the 1967 civil war, terrorism would not have escalated to its present level. He questioned why Nigerian fighter jets were swiftly deployed to Benin Republic to quell an attempted coup, while bandits operating within Nigeria continue to act with impunity.
Ijioma also queried the terms of Nigeria’s agreement with the US, noting that Washington does not deploy its soldiers without clear interests. He maintained that recent US airstrikes in parts of Sokoto and Kwara States only highlighted Nigeria’s capacity to act, if there is genuine resolve.
Similarly, a retired Deputy Inspector General of Police, DIG Goodwin Nwobodo, said the success of the collaboration depends on Nigeria’s sincerity and cooperation, especially in intelligence sharing. He warned that lack of trust or sabotage by Nigerian authorities could undermine US support.
“According to international law, the US troops are here to assist Nigeria. They cannot operate independently without Nigeria’s consent,” Nwobodo said.
Other security experts called on the Federal Government to maximise the partnership by demanding advanced military hardware and intelligence technology from the US. A former ECOMOG officer, Captain Effiong Eyo (retd), urged Nigeria to leverage America’s superior intelligence-gathering capabilities, stressing that political considerations, not military capacity, have hindered progress against insurgents.
While welcoming the collaboration, several commentators stressed that foreign support alone would not end insecurity without strong political will, improved welfare for frontline troops, and adequate equipment.
They also called for transparency on the scope, duration and objectives of the US-Nigeria military partnership, warning that terrorism remains a nationwide challenge requiring sustained, coordinated action by Nigerian authorities.
