By DAYO ADESULU
The United States has resumed intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) operations over Nigeria’s North-East, with renewed aerial monitoring of militant movements inside the Sambisa Forest following recent air strikes on ISIS-linked fighters in Sokoto State.
The development signals a fresh phase of US security engagement in Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts, coming amid heightened diplomatic exchanges between Abuja and Washington over regional security and jihadist threats.
Flight Data Confirms Renewed US ISR Mission
The resumption of surveillance activities was disclosed on Saturday by Brant Philip, a Sahel-focused terrorism and conflict tracker, who shared flight-tracking data showing a US aircraft operating over Borno State.
According to the publicly available data reviewed by multiple open-source intelligence analysts, the aircraft involved was a Gulfstream V — a long-range jet frequently modified for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions.
“The United States resumed ISR operations today on ISWAP in the Sambisa Forest, Borno State in northeast Nigeria, after a pause of one day following the strikes in Sokoto State,” Philip wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
The surveillance mission reportedly focused on the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), an ISIS affiliate that operates largely in Nigeria’s North-East and across the Lake Chad Basin.
US Surveillance Flights Active Since November
Further analysis of flight-tracking records indicates that the US began its current ISR missions over Nigeria on November 24, with aircraft reportedly departing from Ghana. Ghana is widely known to serve as a strategic logistics and operations hub for the American military’s activities in West Africa.
Since the start of the mission, the same aircraft — linked to Tenax Aerospace, a US-based special mission aircraft provider with longstanding ties to the American military — has reportedly flown over Nigerian airspace almost daily.
Security sources familiar with the operations revealed that the flights serve several objectives. These include tracking militant movements, gathering real-time intelligence on terrorist camps and supply routes, and supporting broader regional counterterrorism coordination.
In addition, the surveillance effort is reportedly assisting in the search for an American pilot who was kidnapped in neighbouring Niger Republic, highlighting the interconnected nature of security threats across the Sahel.
Renewed Engagement Follows High-Level Talks
The renewed US surveillance activity comes just weeks after Nigeria’s National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, held talks with US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth in Washington.
That meeting took place against the backdrop of growing diplomatic tension following repeated warnings by US President Donald Trump about possible military intervention in Nigeria if jihadist violence continues unchecked.
After the meeting, Hegseth announced that the US Department of Defence would work “aggressively” with Nigerian authorities to end what he described as the “persecution of Christians by jihadist terrorists.”
Observers say the resumption of ISR operations over Sambisa Forest suggests that Washington is moving quickly from diplomatic assurances to operational support.
Sokoto Air Strikes Mark New Phase
Thursday night’s air strikes in North-West Nigeria, reportedly targeting ISIS-linked militants in Sokoto State, marked a significant escalation in US involvement.
President Trump described the strikes as the “first fulfilment” of his administration’s security commitment to Nigeria. In a strongly worded message issued after the operation, the US President warned that additional strikes could follow if militant activities persist.
Security analysts note that the combination of air strikes and sustained ISR missions reflects a coordinated strategy aimed at disrupting terrorist networks, degrading their operational capabilities, and supporting Nigerian forces with actionable intelligence.
Sambisa Forest Remains a Strategic Militant Stronghold
Despite years of military operations, the Sambisa Forest continues to serve as a critical hideout for ISWAP fighters and other jihadist factions. Its dense terrain and vast expanse have made it difficult to fully neutralise militant presence, even with sustained ground and air campaigns.
By resuming surveillance over the area, the US is expected to provide Nigerian security agencies with enhanced situational awareness, including detailed imagery and movement analysis that could inform future operations.
While Nigerian authorities have yet to officially comment on the renewed US ISR activities, defence analysts believe the collaboration could strengthen counterterrorism outcomes if intelligence sharing remains timely and coordinated.
Balancing Sovereignty and Security
The growing US security footprint has also reignited debates around national sovereignty, foreign military involvement, and long-term solutions to Nigeria’s security challenges.
However, proponents argue that intelligence cooperation, rather than direct troop deployment, offers a measured approach that respects Nigeria’s leadership role while addressing transnational threats.
As surveillance flights continue over Sambisa Forest and pressure mounts on ISIS-linked groups across northern Nigeria, attention will now shift to how effectively intelligence gathered translates into lasting security gains on the ground.
For communities long affected by insurgency, the hope remains that sustained international cooperation will finally weaken militant networks and restore peace to the region.
What Comes Next
With US surveillance back in the skies and warnings of further strikes still looming, Nigeria’s counterterrorism landscape appears to be entering a decisive phase.
Whether the renewed ISR operations will lead to decisive victories against ISWAP remains to be seen. What is clear, however, is that Sambisa Forest has once again become a focal point in the global fight against terrorism.
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