The United States has resumed intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions over Nigeria’s northeast, just one day after conducting air strikes against ISIS targets in Sokoto state.
According to flight tracking data shared by Sahel terrorism analyst Brant Philip, a US-operated Gulfstream V aircraft was observed conducting operations over Borno state on Saturday. The aircraft is a modified long-range business jet commonly used for special military and intelligence missions.
Philip stated that the resumed flights are focused on monitoring the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), the ISIS affiliate active in the Lake Chad region and Sambisa Forest.
“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,” he posted on social media platform X.
The aircraft is linked to Tenax Aerospace, a US-based special mission provider that works closely with American defense agencies. US intelligence flights over Nigeria began in late November and have since been conducted almost daily.
A former US official previously noted that the missions serve dual purposes: gathering intelligence on militant groups in Nigeria and aiding efforts to locate an American pilot kidnapped in neighboring Niger.
The renewal of surveillance comes shortly after Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, met with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in Washington. During the meeting, Hegseth pledged that the US would work “aggressively” with Nigeria to end what he described as the persecution of Christians by jihadist groups.
The Sokoto strikes late Thursday marked the first implementation of President Donald Trump’s earlier warnings of military intervention in the region. Trump has indicated that further strikes will follow.
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