US Military Aircraft Deliver Ammunition to Nigerian Bases in Borno and Kaduna
In a significant development highlighting deepening security cooperation, United States military aircraft delivered ammunition to Nigerian military bases in Borno and Kaduna states between Thursday and Friday. Senior defence officers confirmed that the supplies were part of Washington's ongoing support for Nigeria's fight against insurgency, particularly targeting groups like Boko Haram.
Confirmation from Defence Officials
Multiple senior officers at Nigeria's Defence Headquarters verified that the ammunition deliveries occurred as part of operational logistics support. One officer, speaking anonymously, explained: "Following Nigeria-US bilateral talks on security, the American government will not only deploy soldiers but also provide necessary logistics, including ammunition, to fight the insurgents."
Another senior officer emphasized that such replenishment was routine after military operations, stating: "I know that recently US aircraft came to supply ammunition for our platforms, and that wasn't the first time. So, what you are saying may be true, though I have not been officially briefed." He added that this cooperation was coordinated under Nigeria's National Security Adviser, with expectations of more aircraft and troop deployments in coming weeks.
Reports from Maiduguri and Kaduna
The New York Times reported that US military aircraft landed in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, on Thursday night. By Friday evening, three planes were observed at the base with equipment being offloaded. A US Department of Defense official told the newspaper: "These initial flights are the vanguard of what will be a stream of C-17 transport flights into three main locations across Nigeria."
On social media platform X, an account called @mobilisingniger claimed that a US Air Force C30J transport aircraft landed at Kaduna International Airport after departing from Ghana. The post suggested the Kaduna Depot might serve as a training hub for US personnel working with Nigerian forces. Another user, Brant Philip, described a "massive delivery of equipment" to Maiduguri Airbase, noting that a US Air Force C-130J-30 cargo aircraft had flown to northeast Nigeria from Accra, Ghana.
Broader Deployment Context
This ammunition delivery follows earlier reports that approximately 200 US officers would be deployed to Nigeria. The New York Times indicated that the first wave of personnel had already arrived, marking the beginning of a deployment of American intelligence analysts, advisers, and trainers. Their mission is to assist Nigeria's armed forces in targeted counterterrorism operations, with partial focus on protecting Nigerian Christian communities.
The newspaper further disclosed that several additional aircraft carrying troops and equipment were expected to land over the weekend, with the flow continuing in the coming weeks. As of the reporting period, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Michael Onoja, had not responded to inquiries regarding these developments.
This enhanced military cooperation represents a significant escalation in US-Nigeria security partnership, with both nations intensifying efforts to combat insurgency in Nigeria's northeastern regions.
