The Defence Headquarters has said the planned withdrawal of about 200 United States military personnel from Nigeria will not weaken the security relationship between both countries.
The personnel were deployed to support intelligence, surveillance, training and logistics operations as part of efforts against terrorism, banditry and other security threats.
Director of Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. Samaila Uba, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja during a joint security briefing involving defence, security and law-enforcement agencies.
Uba said the US troop drawdown should not be interpreted as an end to military cooperation between Nigeria and the United States.
He said the bilateral relationship remained strong, while stressing that the deployment of American personnel had been linked to specific operational objectives.
According to him, intelligence cooperation, training and information sharing between the two countries would continue despite changes in the size of the US military presence.
“The relationship between Nigeria and the United States remains strong, enduring and mutually beneficial,” Uba said.
He explained that Nigeria remained primarily responsible for defending its territory and protecting its citizens, while US cooperation was aimed at strengthening the capabilities of Nigerian security forces.
The defence spokesman also clarified that the reported withdrawal from the Lake Chad Basin was separate from the deployment of about 200 US personnel involved in intelligence and training operations in Nigeria.
Uba said both countries would continue working together against terrorism and other transnational security threats.
He urged Nigerians and the media not to interpret mission-specific adjustments in foreign military deployments as evidence of a breakdown in defence cooperation.
Meanwhile, Uba disclosed that the Nigerian military conducted 7,062 security operations across the country in July and August.
He said the operations resulted in the neutralisation of 1,487 terrorists and insurgents, the rescue of 777 kidnapped victims and the arrest of 354 suspects.
Troops also recovered 91 firearms, 1,331 rounds of ammunition and 44 improvised explosive devices during the operations.
The operations targeted terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, arms trafficking, oil theft and other criminal activities.
In the North-East, troops operating under Operation Hadin Kai neutralised 309 Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters and arrested suspected collaborators and logistics facilitators.
Uba added that military pressure also contributed to the surrender of some terrorists and their families.
The Nigeria Police Force also reported significant security operations during the period.
The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Aniete Iniedu, said police operatives neutralised 127 suspected criminals, arrested 1,334 suspects and rescued 383 kidnapped victims.
He said officers recovered 175 firearms, more than 3,790 rounds of ammunition, 93 vehicles and rustled cattle.
Iniedu said police and other security agencies also disrupted several kidnapping and criminal networks across different states.
Among the operations was an engagement with about 240 armed bandits in Kebbi State, where 17 suspects were neutralised.
He said 32 kidnapped victims were also rescued in Maikujera, Sokoto State, while other operations resulted in the rescue of victims in Kogi, Kaduna, Imo and Nasarawa states.
The Nigeria Customs Service, meanwhile, announced that it generated N1.38 trillion between July and August 2026.
Customs spokesman Abdullahi Maiwada said N784.65 billion was generated in July, while August recorded N595.58 billion.
He attributed the revenue performance to technology-driven operations, improved trade facilitation and stronger border enforcement.
The Apapa Area Command generated N323 billion in July, its highest monthly collection at the time, before recording a single-day collection of N28.1 billion on August 18.
Maiwada said the service also recorded growth in export activities during the period.
He said the Lilypond Export Command recorded an export value of $792.57 million in the second quarter of 2026, representing a 24.35 per cent increase from the $599.60 million recorded during the corresponding period in 2025.
The customs spokesman said agricultural exports accounted for $422.09 million, while manufactured goods stood at $350.67 million.
He added that anti-smuggling operations during the two months resulted in seizures with a combined duty-paid value exceeding N61.3 billion.
The seizures included petroleum products, rice, sugar, cannabis, cigarettes, controlled tablets, machinery and other prohibited items.
The various agencies reaffirmed the importance of inter-agency cooperation and public support in addressing Nigeria’s security and economic challenges.
This version keeps the US troop drawdown as the main SEO angle while retaining the military, police and Customs updates as supporting sections.
