US RESUMES INTELLIGENCE FLIGHTS OVER NIGERIA AFTER ISIS STRIKES IN SOKOTO

The United States has resumed intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) flights over Nigeria following recent military action targeting Islamic State (ISIS)-linked militants in Sokoto State.According to flight-tracking data shared by terrorism analysts, a Gulfstream V aircraft, typically modified for long-range ISR missions, began flying surveillance operations again over Nigeria after a brief pause following the Sokoto strikes. The flights have concentrated on ISWAP (Islamic State West Africa Province) positions in the Sambisa Forest and northeastern regions, where extremist groups remain active. The renewed surveillance comes days after precision airstrikes were carried out in Sokoto State on December 26, 2025, targeting two ISIS encampments in the Bauni forest axis of Tangaza Local Government Area. The strikes, launched with the approval of Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu and supported by intelligence from both countries, involved 16 GPS-guided munitions deployed from MQ-9 Reaper drones operating from maritime platforms in the Gulf of Guinea. Nigerian authorities reported no civilian casualties, though debris from the operation fell in nearby communities including Jabo in Sokoto and Offa in Kwara State. Nigeria’s government confirmed the operations were conducted in close coordination with the United States, with Nigeria providing critical intelligence for the strikes. Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar emphasised the cooperation was done “in line with international law and with full respect for Nigeria’s sovereignty,” and highlighted that the fight against terrorism transcends religious lines, affecting both Muslims and Christians alike. The resumption of US ISR flights underscores the ongoing security cooperation between Abuja and Washington as both nations seek to monitor and degrade extremist networks within Nigeria’s borders. Analysts note that these efforts reflect a broader, sustained campaign against transnational terrorism in the Sahel and Lake Chad regions.