According to the military, the information released by US authorities is the declassification of details from a joint Nigeria–United States counter-terrorism operation carried out in May 2026.
Speaking on the development, the Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, said the operation had already been publicly acknowledged by Nigerian authorities and that the latest disclosures were based on information that had previously remained classified.
“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 given out now. However, Nigeria-US joint operations and collaboration are very much on course,” Uba said.
The clarification comes after the US Senior Director for Counterterrorism at the National Security Council, Dr. Sebastian Gorka, described the mission as one of the most significant counter-terrorism operations undertaken under the current US administration.
According to Gorka, the operation resulted in the elimination of 199 jihadists and the seizure of a large cache of intelligence materials, including ISIS-linked electronic devices.
“We needed an extra plane to bring home all the electronic material that we captured in those camps. The haul was three times bigger than any enemy electronics haul since 9-11. That is priceless because now our experts are taking apart all of that information, looking at how ISIS is communicating with each other,” Gorka said.
He added that the intelligence gathered would play a crucial role in disrupting ISIS-linked networks and enhancing future counter-terrorism operations.
“We are not watching and waiting. We are dealing death to bad people,” he stated.
Gorka also warned that extremist groups continue to exploit ungoverned areas across parts of Africa, particularly the Sahel region, to regroup, recruit fighters, and expand their operations.
He noted that security cooperation between the United States and Nigeria has continued to deepen following the establishment of a Joint Working Group on Security after high-level engagements between both countries in late 2025.
The DHQ reiterated that military collaboration between Nigeria and the United States remains active, stressing that both countries will continue to work together to combat terrorism and strengthen regional security.
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