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The move, however, signals a renewed American engagement in West Africa’s security challenges.
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This comes after a period of reduced presence, particularly following the closure of a major US drone base in neighbouring Niger in 2024.
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That facility, worth $100 million and once hosting about 1,000 troops, had been central to monitoring militant activity across the Sahel before Niger’s military leadership asked US forces to leave.
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Nigeria has been grappling with insurgency for nearly two decades.
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Groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP continue to pose a serious threat, adapting tactics and expanding their reach.
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Recent developments underline the urgency.
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A suicide bombing attack struck a garrison town in northeastern Nigeria this week, showing militants can still hit urban centres.
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In the northwest, violence linked to banditry is intensifying, raising fears it could evolve into another hub for Islamist operations, especially near borders with Benin and Niger.
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Against this backdrop, US officials describe the threat as “shared”, and said the drones were deployed at Nigeria’s request to collect intelligence.
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From the Bauchi airfield in northeastern Nigeria, US assets are feeding into a growing intelligence partnership between the two countries.
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Nigerian authorities say this collaboration is already making a difference on the ground.
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Major General Samaila Uba, director of information at Nigeria's Defence Headquarters, confirmed the arrangement and emphasised its non-combat nature.
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“This support builds on the newly established US-Nigeria intelligence fusion cell, which continues to deliver actionable intelligence to our field commanders,” he told Reuters.
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“Our US partners remain in a strictly non-combat role, enabling operations led by Nigerian authorities,” he added.
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There is no fixed timeline for how long US troops and drones will remain in Nigeria.
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Officials from both countries say the duration will be decided jointly, depending on evolving security needs.
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MQ-9 drones also known as Reapers are capable of staying airborne for over 27 hours and can be used for both surveillance and strikes.
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Their current role in Nigeria is restricted to intelligence-gathering, but their presence underscores the strategic flexibility of the deployment.
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Even before this latest move, US surveillance activity in the region had continued.
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Aircraft operating out of Ghana were reportedly conducting intelligence flights over Nigeria last year.
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The US also carried out airstrikes in northwest Nigeria on Christmas Day, targeting militants it said were threatening Christian communities.
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However, Nigerian authorities and conflict experts have pushed back against framing the violence as a purely religious campaign, calling it a far more complex crisis.
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Despite years of military efforts, militant groups remain resilient.
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According to Nigerian officials, both Boko Haram and ISWAP continue to adapt, seeking high-impact attacks to maintain relevance.
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“We continue to assess that these organisations will seek opportunistic targets and may attempt to demonstrate relevance through high-visibility attacks,” Uba said.
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While the Iran conflict dominates headlines, the US presence in Nigeria highlights another front in its global security strategy one where intelligence, not direct combat, is currently the primary weapon.
