The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has clarified that the recent United States announcement on the killing of 199 jihadists and the seizure of a large cache of ISIS weapons, ammunition and electronic equipment relates to a joint Nigeria-US counter-terrorism operation carried out in May 2026, and not a new military offensive.
Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, said the operation had already been announced by the Nigerian military, explaining that the latest information released by the US consisted of previously classified details that have now been declassified.
“This is not a new operation. We have previously communicated our highly successful joint operations in May. What you are hearing are some declassified information concerning our previous operation being released now. However, Nigeria-US joint operations and collaboration remain on course,” Uba said.
The clarification followed remarks by the US Senior Director for Counterterrorism at the National Security Council, Dr. Sebastian Gorka, who described the mission as one of the most successful counter-terrorism operations undertaken by the current US administration.
According to Gorka, the operation resulted in the recovery of the largest cache of enemy electronic equipment since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States.
He revealed that an additional aircraft was required to transport the recovered materials, which he said were three times larger than any similar seizure made since 9/11. The electronic devices are currently being analysed to provide intelligence on how ISIS operatives communicate and coordinate their activities.
Gorka said the intelligence gathered would strengthen efforts to dismantle ISIS networks, adding that the United States has adopted a more aggressive counter-terrorism strategy in the region as extremist groups continue to exploit ungoverned spaces across Africa.
The renewed security partnership between Nigeria and the United States followed a high-level visit by Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, to Washington in November 2025. The visit led to the establishment of a Joint Working Group on Security and enhanced joint operations targeting terrorist enclaves in Nigeria’s North-East.
US officials stressed that sustained cooperation between both countries remains critical to preventing ISIS from rebuilding its operational networks across Africa.
