Di United States don withdraw most of di soldiers wey dem deploy for Nigeria earlier dis year to help fight Islamist militant groups. Di withdrawal come after months of joint operation for Lake Chad Basin area.
For December, US and Nigerian forces launch joint operation for Lake Chad Basin. Dem carry out strikes against militants on Christmas Day, and later deploy about 200 soldiers two months after. Senior Islamic State leader Abu-Bilal al-Minuki bin kill during di mission.
On Thursday, US say di operation bin successful. Nigeria military spokesperson tell BBC say withdrawal of US soldiers go not affect our momentum in any way. Despite di operations, jihadist groups still dey stage attacks, especially for north-eastern Nigeria.
Maj-Gen Michael Onoja say intelligence-sharing between di two countries go continue. US military also mention dis for dia briefing. Military cooperation between Nigeria and US increase after Washington accuse Nigerian authorities of not doing enough to protect vulnerable groups against Islamist militants. US also allege say there be Christian genocide for di country.
Nigeria don firmly reject dis claim, saying di violence complex and affect people from all communities. Organisations wey monitor political violence for Nigeria say most victims of di jihadist groups be Muslims because dem mostly operate for north of di country, where most people follow Islam.
Earlier dis year, US say dem go deploy about 200 troops to support Nigeria counter-insurgency efforts, while stressing say dia forces no go take part for ground combat. Announcing say most of these troops don leave, General Dagvin Anderson, Commander of US Air Forces for Africa, say on Thursday say di operation bin successful and say IS leadership for Nigeria don significantly degrade.
IS don radically shift for recent years, with around 90% of dia attacks now dey take place for sub-Saharan Africa, analysts say. Its Nigeria-based branch be by far di most active. Anderson say di group local command structure and its wider global network both don disrupt by di joint operation, limiting its ability to communicate.
Despite di withdrawal, US military personnel wey dem station for Nigeria before di Lake Chad Basin operation don remain for di country, military spokesperson Major General Samaila Uba tell BBC. Nigeria face multiple security challenges. Along with Islamist militants, banditry and criminal violence dey plague di country, wey don spread from north into parts of central and southern Nigeria.
