US Launches Spy Flights Over Sambisa Forest After Sokoto Airstrikes
The United States has reportedly deployed intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) flights over the Sambisa Forest in northeastern Nigeria, coming days after coordinated airstrikes were carried out in parts of Sokoto State.
Security sources indicate that the surveillance missions are aimed at gathering real-time intelligence on the movement of terrorist groups operating across Nigeria’s vast forest corridors, particularly Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) factions believed to be regrouping in remote locations.
Sambisa Forest has long served as a strategic hideout for insurgents, making it a focal point in Nigeria’s counter-terrorism operations. The latest US involvement underscores growing international cooperation with Nigerian security agencies amid renewed threats in the North-East and North-West regions.
The move follows recent military airstrikes in Sokoto, which targeted suspected terrorist enclaves and logistics routes linked to bandit and extremist networks. Analysts believe the air operations disrupted key supply lines, prompting heightened aerial surveillance to prevent retaliation or regrouping.
Officials familiar with the development say the US spy flights are not combat missions but are designed to enhance intelligence sharing, improve situational awareness, and support Nigeria’s broader security architecture. The collaboration aligns with existing bilateral security agreements between both nations.
The Nigerian government has repeatedly stressed its commitment to tackling insecurity through a mix of kinetic operations, intelligence-led strategies, and international partnerships. Recent deployments, including forest guards and improved aerial monitoring, signal a more aggressive approach to reclaiming ungoverned spaces.
As operations continue, security experts say sustained intelligence gathering will be crucial in dismantling terrorist networks and restoring stability across affected regions.
