Allegations have emerged that the United States is conducting intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) flights over Nigerian territory, particularly targeting Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) positions near Lake Chad in Borno State. Brant Philip, who monitors extremist movements in the Sahel, reported that a manned U.S.
ISR aircraft has flown multiple missions from Accra, Ghana, over the past few days. These claims follow earlier suggestions that the U.S. may carry out unmanned drone strikes under a new, undisclosed security arrangement, potentially using Kainji Air Base in Niger State as a launch point. “Confirming my earlier reports, a manned U.S. ISR aircraft was conducting reconnaissance earlier today over ISWAP territory,” Philip wrote, prompting debate online. Former presidential aide Bashir Ahmad criticized the disclosure, while both Nigerian and U.S. authorities have remained silent amid ongoing security challenges, including kidnappings, banditry, and extremist attacks.