U.S., Nigeria Deepen Security Coordination as American ISR Flights Reportedly Aid Northeast Counterterrorism Operations
The United States and Nigeria have intensified joint security efforts in the fight against extremist groups operating in the country’s northeast, following reports that recent American intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions helped guide Nigerian aerial attacks on insurgent positions.
According to military sources and defence analysts familiar with the development, U.S. surveillance aircraft conducted targeted observation flights over parts of Borno and the wider Lake Chad region in the past week.
The information reportedly gathered during these missions was shared with components of Operation Hadin Kai, the Nigerian military’s counterinsurgency command, enabling more precise strike missions on identified militant hide
The intelligence exchange is said to have followed a high-level strategic meeting between Nigerian defence officials and senior representatives from the U.S. Department of Defence.
The talks, held earlier this month, focused on expanding bilateral cooperation in counterterrorism, enhancing battlefield situational awareness, and improving rapid-response capabilities against Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) cells.
In recent months, Nigeria’s armed forces have escalated air and ground offensives aimed at dismantling long-standing militant strongholds in the northeast.
The Air Force has repeatedly announced successful bombardments of extremist enclaves, while ground troops have carried out coordinated assaults around forested corridors where insurgents are known to operate.
The addition of foreign ISR support, analysts say, has the potential to significantly boost the accuracy of these missions by providing real-time geospatial information and tracking insurgent movements that are otherwise difficult to detect.
U.S.–Nigeria defence cooperation has grown steadily in the last two years, with Washington providing training programmes, intelligence support, and equipment designed to strengthen Nigeria’s ability to counter asymmetric threats.
Security experts note that renewed engagement reflects broader American efforts to assist regional partners in combating extremist violence across West Africa, where terror groups have displayed increasing mobility and adaptability.
Despite the reported gains, observers caution that enhanced targeting capabilities alone will not resolve the underlying security challenges.
They emphasise the need for parallel civilian-focused strategies, including community reconciliation, improved local governance, and adequate humanitarian support to prevent militants from re-establishing influence in cleared areas.
Neither the Pentagon nor Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters has issued an official joint statement confirming operational details of the latest intelligence-sharing arrangement. However, officials from both sides have previously acknowledged the importance of discreet but robust cooperation aimed at improving the effectiveness of counterterrorism missions while maintaining strict operational security.
As the situation in the northeast continues to evolve, the partnership between the U.S. and Nigeria is expected to remain a critical component of ongoing efforts to suppress insurgent activity and restore long-term stability to the region.
