A Nigerian official with knowledge of a new security understanding between Nigeria and the United States has disclosed that Washington will now mainly provide support through reconnaissance flights, while Nigeria conducts subsequent air operations. The official told AFP that although the U.S. has shifted toward an intelligence-gathering role, Abuja remains open to the possibility of additional American strikes, AfricaNews reported.
Following the U.S. airstrikes carried out on Christmas Day, the Nigerian Air Force is set to assume responsibility for further military air missions. The United States is expected to limit its involvement to surveillance and intelligence assistance.
The Christmas night strikes targeted locations in Sokoto State, northwest Nigeria, which Washington described as sites linked to the Islamic State group.
Nigeria has faced a jihadist insurgency since 2009, mainly in the northeast, while criminal gangs commonly referred to as “bandits” have entrenched themselves across rural communities in the northwest and north-central regions.
The military action came after a diplomatic row that erupted in October, when President Donald Trump alleged that violence in Nigeria amounted to the “persecution” and “genocide” of Christians—claims that were strongly rejected by the Nigerian government and independent analysts.
Days before the strikes, Nigeria’s Minister of Information announced that the disagreement had been resolved, leading to what he described as a stronger partnership between Nigeria and the United States.
In the weeks preceding the strikes, analysts noted a surge in U.S. reconnaissance flights over Nigerian airspace, a pattern that has continued.
The New York Times, quoting anonymous Pentagon officials, described the strikes as a “one-off operation.”
Despite occurring after relations had reportedly begun to improve, the strikes unsettled officials in Abuja, particularly after Trump unilaterally took credit for the operation. Nigeria’s Foreign Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, later clarified that the action was a joint effort.
According to Nigerian authorities, the strikes hit Islamic State fighters working alongside the Lakurawa jihadist group and armed bandits. Presidential spokesman Daniel Bwala confirmed that all three groups were targeted, adding that both countries reported the killing of an unspecified number of fighters.