Security Expert Applauds US-Nigeria Intelligence Partnership Against Terrorism in Africa

 Security Expert Applauds US-Nigeria Intelligence Partnership Against Terrorism in Africa

A retired military officer and security expert, Lieutenant Colonel Freddie Grounds, has commended the United States’ 2026 Counterterrorism Strategy for prioritising intelligence-sharing, regional cooperation, and capacity-building to combat terrorism across Africa, particularly in Nigeria and the Sahel region.

In a paper titled “The US 2026 Counterterrorism Strategy and Its Implications for Nigeria and the Sahel,” Grounds described the policy as a major shift in American security strategy, away from large-scale military deployments toward partnership-driven and intelligence-led operations.

According to him, Africa has increasingly become the epicentre of global extremist threats due to the activities of terror groups such as Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), and al-Qaeda affiliates operating across fragile states and porous borders in the Sahel.

Grounds noted that the United States demonstrated its renewed commitment to Africa by deploying about 200 military personnel to Nigeria in early 2026 to support intelligence-sharing, training, and advisory operations under Nigerian command authority.

He also referenced the recent visit of Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, to the United States, where he held high-level meetings with American officials aimed at strengthening bilateral security cooperation.

The expert further highlighted the conclusion of Exercise African Lion 2026, a US-led multinational military exercise involving over 5,600 troops from more than 40 countries, including African partners and NATO allies, focused on multi-domain operations across North and West Africa.

Grounds explained that the new US strategy places significant emphasis on actionable intelligence and strengthening African security institutions to disrupt extremist cells before they establish operational bases.

“The US Government seeks to provide actionable intelligence to African governments, enabling them to disrupt extremist networks before they can establish operational bases in their countries,” he stated.

He added that the strategy acknowledges the importance of African ownership in counterterrorism efforts and also includes commitments to protect vulnerable communities frequently targeted by extremist violence.

The paper identified Nigeria as a central player in the implementation of the strategy due to its position as a frontline state in the Lake Chad Basin, where Boko Haram and ISWAP continue to launch cross-border attacks into neighbouring Niger, Chad, and Cameroon.

Grounds said the growing US-Nigeria partnership has already recorded tangible gains, including reported US airstrikes against ISWAP camps in Sokoto State in December 2025, which allegedly killed between 150 and 200 militants and destroyed several insurgent hideouts.

He also praised Nigeria’s adoption of a whole-of-government approach that combines military operations with community engagement, deradicalisation programmes, and economic interventions aimed at addressing the root causes of violent extremism.

The retired officer further commended the Nigeria-US Joint Working Group established in late 2025, describing it as a critical bilateral framework for coordinating intelligence-sharing, border security, and regional counterterrorism assistance.

According to him, insecurity in the Sahel and the Lake Chad Basin remains deeply interconnected, with extremist groups exploiting weak governance systems, corruption, arms trafficking, and organised crime networks.

Grounds also linked the US strategy to outcomes from the recently concluded Africa Forward Summit 2026 in Kenya, where African leaders pledged stronger collaboration against terrorism, cybercrime, organised crime, and arms trafficking.

He noted that the summit reinforced calls for sustainable financing of African Union peace operations, enhanced United Nations-African Union cooperation, and African-led security solutions.

The paper also highlighted regional security mechanisms such as the Nouakchott Process and the Accra Initiative as evidence of Africa’s growing capacity to build independent security frameworks to counter terrorism and cross-border insurgency.

Despite the progress, Grounds warned that significant challenges remain, particularly concerns over sovereignty and the risk of overdependence on foreign military support.

He stressed that while American assistance may strengthen Nigeria’s counterterrorism capacity, long-term success would depend on governance reforms, accountability, and sustainable development initiatives capable of addressing the underlying causes of instability.

Grounds concluded that the US 2026 Counterterrorism Strategy reflects a pragmatic and recalibrated approach to global security by recognising that instability in Nigeria and the Sahel poses wider international consequences, including refugee crises and the spread of extremist ideology.

He maintained that the success of the strategy would ultimately rely on effective regional cooperation, local institutional capacity, sustainable financing, and African-led security initiatives.