The United States has announced plans to withdraw about 200 troops deployed to Nigeria to support the fight against Islamist militants.

The troops were deployed to northeastern Nigeria in February after US President Donald Trump criticised Nigeria over attacks on Christians.

The deployment expanded an existing US military presence that had been helping Nigerian forces identify potential terrorist targets through intelligence sharing.

According to reports, the US military operation included joint intelligence work, training and combat support that culminated in a May operation that killed Abu Bilal al-Minuki, described by US officials as a senior Islamic State leader.

US military officials said than 200 other militants were killed in subsequent airstrikes and ground operations involving US and Nigerian forces. The operations also included the use of MQ-9 Reaper drones and AC-130 gunships.

However, the withdrawal comes as terrorist groups continue to carry out attacks in different parts of Nigeria. For instance, gunmen recently killed than two dozen people, including an imam, in northwestern Nigeria, while at least 25 people were killed in an attack on a village in central Nigeria.

US Africa Command spokesperson Col. Becky Heyse described the Nigeria mission as an example of how a limited and temporary American military presence could produce security gains.

“Our recent joint efforts in Nigeria are a prime example of how this tailored, temporary footprint can yield significant security returns,” Heyse said.

US military officials said small teams of trainers and intelligence analysts would remain in Nigeria after the larger contingent leaves by late September.

The planned withdrawal follows a period of closer military cooperation between Washington and Abuja. President Trump and President Bola Tinubu exchanged letters in July supporting the security partnership, while a senior Nigerian military delegation met American military officials in Washington on August 13 to discuss shared security priorities.