The United States has resumed intelligence flights over Nigeria, according to flight-tracking data and terrorism analysts, days after American forces carried out air strikes on ISIS-linked militants in Sokoto State.
Data shared publicly shows a Gulfstream V aircraft, a long-range jet commonly adapted for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions, conducting operations over northeastern Nigeria on Saturday.
The surveillance activity took place mainly over Borno State, home to the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and other insurgent groups operating around the Sambisa Forest and the Lake Chad Basin.
Sahel security monitor Brant Philip, known for tracking terrorism-related movements in West Africa, posted on 𝕏 (formerly Twitter) that the ISR aircraft resumed its operations targeting ISWAP, just one day after the American air actions in Sokoto.
Flight-tracking records indicate the aircraft began regular operations over Nigerian airspace from November 24, shortly after departing Ghana, which serves as a key staging point for US military logistics in Africa.
Since then, the aircraft has been reported flying over Nigeria almost daily.
The operator of the aircraft has been identified as Tenax Aerospace, a US-linked special mission contractor that works closely with American defence forces on ISR activities.
A former US official familiar with the surveillance missions has said that part of the initial focus was to gather intelligence related to an American pilot who was kidnapped in neighbouring Niger Republic, in addition to tracking extremist factions in Nigeria’s northeast.
The resumption of intelligence flights over Nigeria came just days after a high-level meeting in Washington, DC, between Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, and US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Their discussions reportedly included deepening cooperation on counter-terrorism and shared efforts to address militant violence across the region.
The Pentagon has publicly stated its intention to work “aggressively” with Nigerian security forces to combat terrorism, particularly emphasising the protection of civilians and an end to what American officials describe as “systematic attacks on Christian communities by jihadist terrorists.”
Last Thursday’s American air strikes in Sokoto State marked the first direct implementation of President Donald Trump’s directive to take action against groups accused of killing mainly Christians and other innocent Nigerians.
In announcing the strikes, Trump indicated that similar operations could occur if extremist violence continued.
As surveillance flights continue, security analysts say the intelligence gathered may support future precision operations and inform joint strategies to weaken armed groups that have long challenged Nigeria’s security apparatus.
As at the time of this report, NaijaViralHQ gathered that neither the Nigerian government nor US defence officials had disclosed full details about the intelligence flights or any follow-up operations.
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