The United States has reportedly been conducting intelligence-gathering flights across several regions of Nigeria since late November, according to flight tracking records and statements from current and former U.S. officials.
These operations suggest heightened security collaboration between the two countries following U.S. President Donald Trump’s warnings of possible military intervention against terrorists in Nigeria.
While the exact objectives of the flights remain unclear, the surveillance missions came after Trump’s November threats over what he described as Nigeria’s failure to curb attacks on Christian communities. The operations also follow the recent kidnapping of a U.S. missionary pilot in neighboring Niger.
Flight tracking data from December shows the contractor-operated aircraft departing from Ghana, flying over Nigerian airspace, and returning to Accra, Ghana’s capital, according to Reuters. The flights are operated by Mississippi-based Tenax Aerospace, a company providing special mission aircraft in coordination with the U.S. military. Tenax did not respond to requests for comment.
Liam Karr, Africa Team Lead for the Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, said the flights appear to originate from an Accra airport, a known hub for U.S. military logistics in Africa. He noted that the operations indicate Washington is rebuilding its regional intelligence capabilities following Niger’s 2024 decision to expel U.S. troops in favor of Russian security assistance.
“In recent weeks, we’ve observed a resumption of intelligence and surveillance flights over Nigeria,” Karr stated.
A former U.S. official confirmed that several aircraft were relocated to Ghana by the Trump administration in November. Although the exact number of aircraft remains unclear, the missions reportedly involve tracking the kidnapped U.S. pilot and collecting intelligence on militant groups in Nigeria, including Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province.
A current U.S. official verified that the aircraft have flown over Nigeria but declined to provide further details due to the sensitive diplomatic context. Another U.S. official noted ongoing cooperation with Nigeria to address religious violence, anti-Christian attacks, and the spread of terrorism. All U.S. officials spoke on condition of anonymity.
The Pentagon acknowledged productive discussions with Nigeria following Trump’s statements but refused to comment on intelligence operations. Requests for comment from Nigeria’s military spokesperson and Ghana’s deputy defense minister went unanswered.
The Nigerian government has emphasized that armed groups target both Muslims and Christians, maintaining that U.S. claims of Christian persecution do not fully reflect Nigeria’s complex security situation. Nevertheless, Abuja has agreed to work with Washington to strengthen counter-terrorism efforts. Nigeria’s population is roughly divided between Muslims, primarily in the north, and Christians in the south.
A Nigerian security source revealed that on November 20, Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth agreed to deploy U.S. air assets over Nigeria for intelligence purposes. The Nigerian military did not respond to follow-up requests.
Flight tracking shows the Tenax Aerospace Gulfstream V, a long-range business jet often modified for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions, was at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida, on November 7, before flying to Ghana on November 24, shortly after the high-level security meeting. Since then, the aircraft has conducted almost daily flights over Nigeria.
These surveillance operations occur amid escalating insecurity in the country, underscoring the ongoing challenges Nigeria faces in combating terrorism and protecting civilians.
