By Muhammed Abubakar, Reporting
THE Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has confirmed the arrival of approximately 100 United States military personnel and associated equipment at Bauchi Airfield, as part of a bilateral military cooperation initiative between Nigeria and the United States.
In a statement issued by the Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Samaila Uba, the DHQ said the deployment followed deliberations during a working group engagement between a Nigerian delegation and its US counterpart.
According to the statement, the arrival was planned and executed following a formal request by the Federal Government of Nigeria for support in clearly defined areas of military training, technical assistance and intelligence sharing with members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
The collaboration is expected to grant Nigeria access to specialised technical capabilities aimed at strengthening its capacity to deter terrorist threats and improve the protection of vulnerable communities nationwide.
The US personnel, the DHQ clarified, are technical specialists serving strictly in advisory and training roles and are not combat forces.
All training activities will be conducted under the authority, direction and control of the Nigerian Government, in close coordination with the Nigerian Armed Forces.
Nigerian troops, alongside the US advisers, will begin a series of joint training engagements and intelligence-focused cooperation initiatives designed to enhance their ability to identify and neutralise extremist groups seeking to destabilise the country.
Reaffirming its commitment, the Armed Forces of Nigeria stated that it remains resolute in degrading and defeating terrorist organisations threatening the nation’s sovereignty, national security and the safety of its citizens.
The DHQ also assured Nigerians of continued transparency and the provision of clear, accurate and timely information regarding the ongoing military cooperation.
Meanwhile, the United States Government has frozen the assets and properties of eight Nigerians accused of having links to Boko Haram and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), following fresh sanctions imposed by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
The action was detailed in a sanctions document released over the weekend, spanning more than 3,000 pages, which listed individuals designated under terrorism, cybercrime and other national security-related offences.
OFAC stated that the publication served as formal notice of individuals added to its Specially Designated Nationals list. As a result, all assets under US jurisdiction belonging to those named have been blocked, and American citizens and US-based entities are prohibited from engaging in financial or business transactions with them.
Among those listed is Salih Yusuf Adamu, also known as Salihu Yusuf, who was previously convicted in the United Arab Emirates for assisting in the establishment of a Boko Haram fundraising network.
He was reportedly among six Nigerians convicted in 2022 for attempting to transfer 782,000 dollars from Dubai to insurgents in Nigeria.
Others named include Babestan Oluwole Ademulero, identified under multiple aliases; Abu Abdullah ibn Umar Al-Barnawi, also known as Ba Idrisa; Abu Musab Al-Barnawi, described as a Boko Haram leader; Khaled Al-Barnawi, linked to the group under various spellings and nicknames; Ibrahim Ali Alhassan, reportedly based in Abu Dhabi; Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad Al-Mainuki, sanctioned for alleged ISIL connections; and Nnamdi Orson Benson, designated under cybercrime provisions.
Under the sanctions, all property and financial interests belonging to the individuals within US control have been frozen, and any dealings with them are strictly prohibited.
OFAC said the measures were implemented pursuant to Executive Order 13224, which targets terrorism financing and support networks.
Boko Haram has been designated a foreign terrorist organisation by the United States since 2013 due to its involvement in deadly attacks across northern Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin.
US authorities stated that the sanctions form part of broader efforts to disrupt extremist financing channels and strengthen international counter-terrorism enforcement.
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