The US is reportedly flying in weapons to northeastern Nigeria, a signal that it may be preparing to intensify attacks against suspected Islamic terrorist positions in that area, long known as the hotbed of Islamic insurgency. The US Air Force has reportedly flown into Borno State capital Maiduguri at least six times to deliver heavy military equipment. 

Borno State has been the epicentre of attacks by Boko Haram and its breakaway faction, the Islamic State for West Africa Province (ISWAP) for at least two decades now. Most of the rural areas in the state remain inaccessible due to the presence of the terrorists, who use their bases outside the capital to stage attacks against military positions and ambush soldiers. Most of the flights came from the Accra base in Ghana. 

Separately, the New York Times reported on 15 February 2026 that the planes may have also brought in the first batch of around 100 to 200 US military personnel to train special forces to fight the insurgents in the north. The first batch of trained special forces have been deployed to Yola, according to media reports. 

The US’ involvement will give some teeth to the fight against insurgency, contributing superior weapons and discipline, two areas that the Nigerian forces have lacked. Still, they risk being stuck in a fight with no clear frontlines. A key challenge will be dealing with betrayals from embedded sympathisers in communities and even in the military, one of the biggest difficulties. Most of them are motivated by religious ideology rather than money, which makes it difficult to root them out.