Since late November, the United States (US) has been carrying out intelligence-gathering flights across extensive areas of Nigeria, flight tracking records and statements from current and former US officials indicate, reflecting a growing level of security collaboration between the two nations.
A current US official confirmed that American aircraft had been flying over Nigeria citing diplomatic sensitivities. Another administration official said Washington was continuing to work with Abuja to “address religious violence, anti-Christian attacks, and the destabilising spread of terrorism”.
According to a Reuters investigation, the missions mark the first time a major international news organisation has confirmed US aerial surveillance operations over Nigeria. While the precise intelligence objectives remain unclear, the flights come amid heightened diplomatic tension after Trump threatened possible military action over what he described as Nigeria’s failure to curb violence against Christian communities.
Flight data reviewed by Reuters shows that the contractor-operated aircraft typically departs from Accra, Ghana’s capital, flies across Nigerian airspace and returns to Ghana. The aircraft is operated by Mississippi-based Tenax Aerospace, a company that provides special-mission aircraft and works closely with the US military.
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Liam Karr, Africa team lead at the Critical Threats Project of the American Enterprise Institute, said the operation appeared to be based out of Accra, “a known hub for the US military’s logistics network in Africa”.
“In recent weeks we’ve seen a resumption of intelligence and surveillance flights in Nigeria,” Karr said, describing the activity as an early indication that Washington is rebuilding its intelligence capacity in the region.
The renewed focus follows Niger’s decision last year to expel US troops from a newly constructed desert airbase, opting instead to deepen security cooperation with Russia. A former US official said the surveillance aircraft was among several assets repositioned to Ghana in November under the Trump administration.
The official said the missions included efforts to locate a US pilot kidnapped in neighbouring Niger earlier this year, as well as intelligence gathering on militant groups operating in Nigeria, including Boko Haram and its offshoot, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
In a statement, the Pentagon said the US government had held “productive meetings” with Nigerian officials following Trump’s warning in November but declined to comment on intelligence matters.
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Abuja has consistently rejected claims that Christians are being systematically targeted, arguing that armed groups attack both Muslims and Christians and that the conflict reflects a complex security crisis rather than religious persecution. The government has, however, agreed to deepen cooperation with the US to strengthen its response to militant violence.
Trump has further instructed the Pentagon to prepare options for “fast” military action should Nigeria fail to stem attacks on Christian communities.
The surveillance activity comes as Nigeria grapples with worsening insecurity. Last month, President Bola Tinubu declared a security emergency and ordered mass recruitment into the army and police following a series of deadly attacks, kidnappings and the abduction of more than 300 schoolchildren in northern states.
In October, Trump placed Nigeria back on a US watchlist of countries accused of violating religious freedom. This week, Nigeria was added to a US travel ban list facing partial entry restrictions.
