By DAYO ADESULU
US Surveillance Aircraft Spotted Over Borno Amid Intensifying Anti-Terror Operations
A new wave of international military collaboration has emerged in Nigeria’s counterterrorism landscape after a security and jihadism expert, Brant Philip, disclosed that a United States manned intelligence aircraft conducted surveillance missions over Borno State. The operation, he said, is part of a confidential military understanding between Washington and Abuja aimed at suppressing the growing threat posed by ISWAP across the Lake Chad region.
Philip, who tracks jihadist movements across the Sahel, revealed on Saturday that the aircraft departed from Accra, Ghana, before flying into Nigerian airspace to carry out reconnaissance over ISWAP-controlled territories. According to him, the mission marked the latest in a series of covert ISR flights believed to have been active for days.
Expert Reveals Secret Reconnaissance Flights
Confirming previous intelligence reports, Philip wrote on X that a manned US ISR aircraft conducted surveillance “earlier today over ISWAP territory in southwestern Lake Chad, Borno State.” He said the aircraft was already returning to its base in Accra when he posted the update.
Two days earlier, he hinted that the US Department of War had begun reconnaissance operations from Ghana without any public announcement from the Nigerian government. He suggested that the arrangement may have been finalized behind closed doors.
Further elaborating on Sunday, he added that the same ISR aircraft had returned for the third consecutive day to spy over “Mantiqah Krinwa,” one of ISWAP’s operating hubs around the Lake Chad fringes. He emphasized that the pattern indicated a sustained surveillance programme.
Possible Authorization for US UAV Strikes
Philip also claimed that, under the emerging security pact, the United States may soon be permitted to carry out unmanned airstrikes inside Nigeria. He clarified that the approval, according to his private sources, would cover only UAV platforms and not fighter jets or bombers.
He stated that the American side will “fill the ISR gaps” of the Nigerian armed forces using both manned and unmanned aircraft. He further suggested that Kainji Air Base in Niger State could serve as a launch hub for future missions, though this remains unconfirmed.
Political Backlash Over Intelligence Disclosures
The revelations quickly triggered political reactions. Former presidential aide Bashir Ahmad criticised Philip’s updates, warning that the disclosures risked alerting ISWAP to sensitive military movements.
“Stop exposing this vital information to ISWAP please,” Ahmad wrote, expressing concern that such posts could compromise active operations.
Diplomatic Background to the Covert Collaboration
The reported surveillance missions come in the wake of renewed diplomatic engagement between Nigeria and the United States. Earlier in November, Nigeria sent a high-level security delegation to Washington following its designation as a “Country of Particular Concern” by former US President Donald Trump, who accused the country of failing to halt violence against Christians.
During the meeting at the Pentagon, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth hosted Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, alongside other senior officials including the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Ojukwu; and the Chief of Defence Staff, Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede.
The discussions centred on stopping jihadist violence, protecting Christian communities, and enhancing joint counterterrorism operations across West Africa. Hegseth reportedly urged Nigeria to take “urgent and enduring action” against militants threatening both nations.
No Official Statement Yet From Abuja or Washington
Despite Philip’s multiple updates, neither the Nigerian government nor US authorities have issued an official confirmation of any US-led operations on Nigerian soil. The absence of a public statement has fuelled speculation about a covert defence pact signed discreetly between both countries.
Meanwhile, Trump’s previous threat to launch military action in Nigeria has already sparked outrage among political leaders and civil society, who described the remark as an unacceptable interference in Nigeria’s sovereignty.
Insecurity Continues to Escalate Nationwide
The latest development unfolds against a backdrop of worsening insecurity, especially across Borno, Niger, Kebbi, and parts of the North-West. Kidnappings, jihadist attacks, and banditry have become daily realities for many Nigerians despite ongoing military operations.
As the nation watches closely, questions remain about the depth of the Nigeria–US collaboration, the legal framework guiding it, and the implications for regional security.
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