Kenyan expert hails US Military boost as game-changer in Nigeria’s fight against Boko Haram, ISWAP
A Kenyan journalist and counterinsurgency expert has hailed the recent deployment of U.S. military personnel to Nigeria as a significant boost to the country’s long-running fight against Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), and affiliated terrorist groups.
Daniel Gachane, in a detailed statement, described the arrival of U.S. servicemen for training, intelligence sharing, and equipment support as something to salute.
He emphasized that the partnership provides Nigerian forces with a “decisive edge” in locating and destroying terrorist camps and networks, addressing longstanding challenges like patchy intelligence, outdated equipment, and insufficient training.
Nigeria has battled Boko Haram since 2009, with inconsistent results. Gachane noted that even the 2021 death of Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau was attributed to a rival faction rather than Nigerian forces.
He said: “Boko Haram, which originated as a small outfit in Maiduguri, Borno State, has since splintered and linked with affiliates including ISWAP, Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), Ansaru, and the emerging Lakurawa group. These networks now exert influence across parts of Nigeria and neighboring countries like Cameroon, Chad, and Niger.”
According to Gachane, estimates indicate the insurgency has caused between 20,000 and 35,000 deaths, disproportionately affecting women and children.
“The militants have conducted mass abductions of students—making schools unsafe—disrupted farming, fishing, trading, and commuting, and targeted religious sites including churches, mosques, and mourning gatherings,” he said.
Gachane argued that the terrorists’ cross-border connections sustain their operations, making international collaboration essential. He called the U.S. partnership a “game-changer,” particularly under President Donald Trump’s administration, which he said is fulfilling pledges to combat terrorism decisively.
He explained: “Recent U.S. actions underscore this commitment: On December 25, 2025, U.S. forces launched strikes using approximately a dozen Tomahawk cruise missiles from a Navy ship in the Gulf of Guinea, targeting terrorist camps in Sokoto State used for planning and coordination. The operation, coordinated with Nigerian authorities, focused on Islamic State-linked militants, with both sides reporting militant casualties.”
He added that the U.S. has also frozen assets of individuals linked to Boko Haram and ISWAP to disrupt funding. According to Gachane, this highlighted that U.S. support has been “total and unequivocal,” with American personnel now on the ground in advisory roles under Nigerian command.
He said Nigerian troops have demonstrated bravery in the conflict, but pointed to persistent hurdles that U.S. expertise can help overcome. He expressed optimism that the partnership will help dismantle violent extremist networks and protect innocent lives.
