Nigerian military receiving U.S. training

LAGOS, Nigeria, Nov. 9 (UPI) -- The Nigerian military says the United States is helping train Nigerian troops to combat Boko Haram militants.

Nigerian army officials said several units received training in the United States earlier this year on bomb disposal and counter-terrorism tactics, The Guardian reported Tuesday.

"The army is in the process of setting up a division that is effectively looking at warfare tactics," a Nigerian military spokesman told the British newspaper.

The U.S. Embassy in Nigeria said it has provided training to Nigerian soldiers for decades but would not confirm that current training exercises are aimed at fighting the radical Boko Haram group that has been responsible for increasing violence in the country.