The surveillance flights, according to Philip, are designed to monitor and track the movements of Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) militants around the volatile Lake Chad region.
Fresh reports of secret U.S. military surveillance activities inside Nigeria have emerged after a well-known Sahel security expert, Brant Philip, claimed that an American intelligence aircraft has been flying over Nigerian airspace under a quiet security arrangement between Abuja and Washington. The surveillance flights, according to Philip, are designed to monitor and track the movements of Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) militants around the volatile Lake Chad region.
Philip, a jihadi-tracking specialist who routinely monitors extremist networks across the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin, disclosed the alleged operations in a series of posts over the weekend on X (formerly Twitter). His claims—though yet to be confirmed by either government—have ignited questions about the extent of Nigeria’s cooperation with the United States, the transparency of such collaborations, and the broader implications for counter-terrorism operations in the country. Surveillance Aircraft Reportedly Operating From Ghana According to Philip, a manned United States Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft took off from Accra, Ghana on Saturday before flying into Nigerian airspace to conduct what he described as targeted reconnaissance missions over ISWAP-controlled enclaves in southwestern Lake Chad, Borno State. “Confirming my earlier reports, a manned US ISR aircraft was conducting reconnaissance earlier today over ISWAP territory in southwestern Lake Chad, Borno State, northeast Nigeria; it originally took off from Accra, Ghana and is currently on its way back,” he wrote. He added that Saturday’s surveillance flight was not an isolated operation but part of a broader, developing pattern. By Sunday, he reported that the aircraft had returned yet again, marking the third consecutive day of U.S. aerial surveillance over ISWAP’s Mantiqah Krinwa, a known insurgent zone on the fringes of Lake Chad.
democratic oversight. Conclusion While the full extent of U.S. involvement in Nigeria remains unclear, the ongoing speculation highlights the nation’s deepening security crisis and the urgent need for transparency between the government and its citizens. Whether the alleged spy flights mark the beginning of a broader U.S.–Nigeria counter-terrorism partnership or merely an isolated intelligence-sharing agreement, the situation is poised to spark more political and public debate in the coming days.
source: Newsweek
