The United States has resumed intelligence and surveillance operations over Nigeria’s Sambisa Forest, days after carrying out airstrikes against ISIS-linked targets in Sokoto State. The renewed activity signals sustained American involvement in counterterrorism efforts targeting extremist groups operating in the country.
Flight tracking data on Saturday showed a US-linked aircraft conducting surveillance missions over Borno State in northeast Nigeria. The aircraft, identified as a Gulfstream V, is a long-range jet commonly adapted for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance operations.
A Sahel-focused terrorism analyst said the mission was aimed at monitoring the Islamic State West Africa Province, the ISIS affiliate active in the Lake Chad Basin and Nigeria’s northeast. According to him, the surveillance resumed after a brief pause following Thursday night’s airstrikes in Sokoto.
The Sambisa Forest has long served as a stronghold for ISWAP and other jihadist groups, making it a critical focus for counterterrorism operations. Analysts say renewed aerial monitoring suggests preparations for further action or intelligence gathering to disrupt militant networks.
Tracking data indicated that the surveillance mission began on November 24, shortly after the aircraft departed from Ghana. Ghana is known to function as a logistics and operational hub for US military activities in West Africa. Since then, the aircraft has reportedly flown over Nigeria almost daily.
The aircraft’s operator was linked to Tenax Aerospace, a company that provides special mission aircraft and is known to work closely with the US military. Such platforms are typically used for persistent monitoring and real-time intelligence collection.
At the start of the mission, a former US official said the operations were partly focused on locating an American pilot kidnapped in neighbouring Niger Republic. The flights also aimed to gather intelligence on armed groups operating across Nigeria’s northern regions.
The renewed surveillance follows high-level talks between Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth in Washington. The discussions reportedly touched on expanding military cooperation amid concerns over jihadist violence.
After the meeting, Hegseth said the US would work aggressively with Nigeria to counter extremist groups. Thursday’s airstrikes in Sokoto marked the first visible action, with US officials indicating that further operations could follow.
