US will send troops to Nigeria to train the military to fight extremism

Nigerian authorities say the United States is sending troops to Nigeria to train the West African country's military in combating extremism as a multifaceted security crisis spreads in the north. A U.S. official said Wednesday that around 200 American troops are expected to arrive in Nigeria. The country has been a focus of Washington after U.S. President Donald Trump accused Nigeria protecting Christians from an alleged genocide. U.S. forces launched airstrikes on Islamic State group-affiliated militants in northwestern Nigeria in December. The head of U.S. Africa Command said last month that a small team of U.S. military officers were in Nigeria and focusing on intelligence support.