MILITARY DISMISSES CLAIMS OF US AIRCRAFT DELIVERING ARMS IN NORTHERN NIGERIA
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By: Fasasi Hammad
Senior Nigerian military officials have refuted claims that United States aircraft recently delivered weapons and military equipment in Borno and Kaduna states to assist the Armed Forces in tackling terrorism and insecurity.
The reports, which circulated widely on social media last week, referenced a story by The New York Times alleging that three US military planes had landed in Nigeria between Thursday and Friday, with at least one unloading ammunition and other equipment in Maiduguri, Borno State.
A US Department of Defense source was quoted saying, “These initial flights are the vanguard of what will be a stream of C-17 transport flights into three main locations across Nigeria.”
However, senior officials at Defence Headquarters and the Army stated they had no knowledge of such deliveries. An Army source confirmed that no US aircraft landed in Kaduna or any other Nigerian location last week.
Additionally, military sources from the theatre commands dismissed reports of arms drops in Borno as “fake and baseless.” An airport official at Muhammadu Buhari International Airport, speaking anonymously, clarified that the aircraft that landed last Friday was a Max Air flight carrying Nigerian troops, not US planes.
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The military also noted that, under existing bilateral agreements, Nigeria receives support from countries including the US, UK, and France, such as intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR), and other combat assistance—but these are part of long-standing arrangements and not new arms deliveries.
This clarification comes amid strengthened security cooperation between Nigeria and the US, which previously included joint operations against ISIS camps in Sokoto State on Christmas Day 2025.
Officials emphasized that Nigeria continues to fight terrorism and insecurity with international partners, but reiterated that reports of US planes dropping arms in Borno and Kaduna last week are incorrect.
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