The United States has intensified intelligence and surveillance operations over Nigeria, conducting frequent aerial monitoring missions since late November, amid renewed security concerns and diplomatic engagements between both countries.
According to Reuters, the flight tracking data and US officials, the surveillance aircraft—operated by a private contractor working closely with the US military—has been flying almost daily over large parts of Nigeria, taking off from Ghana and returning to Accra.
The development comes weeks after former US President Donald Trump publicly criticised the Nigerian government over its handling of violence affecting Christian communities, warning that Washington could take action if the situation did not improve.
While the exact purpose of the missions has not been officially disclosed, analysts say the flights point to a rebuilding of US intelligence capacity in the region following the withdrawal of American troops from Niger earlier this year.
“The operation appears to be running out of Accra, which is a known hub for the US military’s logistics network in Africa,” said Liam Karr, Africa team lead at the Critical Threats Project of the American Enterprise Institute, who analysed the flight data.
Karr added that the renewed surveillance suggested Washington was repositioning its intelligence assets after Niger ordered US forces to vacate a major air base and shifted its security partnership towards Russia.
Flight data identified the aircraft operator as Tenax Aerospace, a Mississippi-based firm that provides special mission aircraft and works closely with the US military. The company did not respond to requests for comment.
A former US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the aircraft was among several assets moved to Ghana in November and said the missions included tracking a US pilot kidnapped in neighbouring Niger, as well as gathering intelligence on militant groups operating in Nigeria.
“These flights are part of broader efforts to monitor Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province, and other extremist groups,” the official said.
A current US official also confirmed that surveillance flights had taken place over Nigeria but declined to provide further details, citing diplomatic sensitivity.
Another official said Washington was continuing to engage Nigerian authorities to “address religious violence, anti-Christian attacks, and the destabilising spread of terrorism.”
Nigeria, however, has repeatedly rejected claims that violence in the country targets Christians alone, insisting that both Muslims and Christians are victims of armed groups.
Nigerian officials argue that such claims oversimplify the country’s security challenges and overlook ongoing efforts to protect religious freedom.
A Nigerian security source disclosed that during a meeting on November 20 between the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and the US Defence Secretary, Pete Hegseth, both sides agreed on the deployment of air assets for intelligence gathering.
The Pentagon, in a statement, said the US held “productive meetings” with Nigerian officials following Trump’s remarks but declined to comment on intelligence activities.
Nigeria’s military spokesperson and Ghana’s deputy defence minister did not respond to requests for comment.
Flight records showed the surveillance aircraft—a Gulfstream V jet commonly modified for intelligence missions—was at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida on November 7 before flying to Ghana later in the month. MacDill hosts the headquarters of the US Special Operations Command.
The renewed surveillance comes as Nigeria grapples with worsening insecurity
Last month, President Bola Tinubu declared a security emergency and ordered mass recruitment into the armed forces and police following deadly attacks, kidnappings and the abduction of hundreds of schoolchildren in northern states.
