Exclusive: US conducting surveillance flights over Nigeria after Trump intervention threat

Breaking: U.S. Surveillance Flights Over Nigeria Resume From Ghana Amid Security Tensions

A new wave of U.S.intelligence flights is being conducted over wide swaths of Nigeria, Reuters-confirmed tracking shows, with a Gulfstream V aircraft operated by tenax Aerospace reportedly departing from accra, Ghana. The flights began in late November and have continued with a near-daily pattern in December, signaling an uptick in security cooperation between Washington and Abuja.

The missions come as Washington publicly contemplates how far to go in backing nigeria’s battle against militant groups, and after President Donald Trump urged possible military action in Nigeria in November. While U.S.officials have not disclosed the exact intelligence goals of the flights, the operations are described by insiders as part of a broader security partnership with Nigeria.

What the flight data shows

Flight-tracking records indicate a contractor-operated aircraft taking off from accra, flying over Nigeria, then returning to Ghana. The operator is Tenax Aerospace,a Mississippi-based firm that provides specialized missions aircraft for the U.S. military. Tenax has not commented on the flights.

Analysts with security expertise say the missions appear to be coordinated from the Accra area, a known logistics node for U.S.operations in Africa. The ongoing pattern suggests the flights are intended for intelligence gathering and reconnaissance rather than publicized ground actions.

The airframe in use is a Gulfstream V configured for long-range ISR work. The December tracking data show the aircraft routinely crossing into Nigerian airspace and then returning to West africa’s regional hub, underscoring a steady tempo of aerial surveillance in the region.

Context and responses

Observers note that the incursion comes after periods of tension between the United States and Nigeria, including Nigeria’s decision to expel or reorient foreign security assets in earlier months and Trump’s calls for fast military measures to curb violence against Christians in the contry.

Local security officials say Nigeria faces violence from multiple groups, including factions linked to Boko Haram and the Islamic State West africa Province. Nigeria’s government has acknowledged the security challenge and moved to bolster security forces through mass recruitment,while insisting that Western criticisms of religious freedom do not capture the full security picture.

In a parallel development,a U.S. official noted that Washington has several tools at its disposal and continues to work with Nigerian authorities to address religious violence, anti-Christian attacks, and the broader spread of terrorism. Officials stressed that the specifics of intelligence operations are not public.

Meanwhile, a U.S. Department of Defence statement described productive discussions with Nigerian counterparts following President Trump’s remarks, while declining to discuss operational details. Nigerian military officials did not respond to requests for comment on the flights.

Key figures and locations

The aircraft in question is operated by a firm with close ties to the U.S. military’s logistical network in Africa. Observers point to Accra as the operational base for the mission, with flights crossing into Nigerian airspace on a near-daily basis throughout December.

Deeper implications for regional security

These developments illustrate a renewed U.S. capacity and willingness to conduct aerial intelligence missions across West Africa, aiming to bolster partner countries facing violent insurgencies. They also reflect wider strategic debates about the role of foreign security assistance in fragile states, sovereignty concerns, and the balance between counterterrorism and civil liberties.

Evergreen insights for the long term

As security landscapes in West Africa evolve, foreign ISR assets can both deter and complicate local dynamics. Nigeria’s push to strengthen its security forces must be paired with clear governance and oversight to maintain public trust. The presence of external surveillance highlights the enduring tension between counterterrorism needs and national sovereignty.

For readers tracking regional stability, the pattern suggests that external partners may increasingly rely on a mix of air-based intelligence and liaison-enabled operations to monitor militant networks, prevent kidnappings, and support domestic security laboratories in decision-making. The situation underscores the importance of clear channels between governments and international partners, especially when operations touch on sensitive religious and ethnic fault lines.

Fact	Details
Aircraft	Gulfstream V configured for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR)
operator	Tenax Aerospace, Mississippi-based contractor working with U.S. military
Origin/Base	Departures observed from Accra, Ghana
Area Covered	Nigeria, with flights nearly daily since late November
Purpose (publicly described)	Intelligence gathering and reconnaissance; specifics not disclosed
Context	follows high-level talks in which the U.S. signaled willingness to bolster security in Nigeria
Related Nigerian developments	President Tinubu’s security emergency; mass recruitment; ongoing violence in multiple states
Regional significance	signals renewed U.S. capacity in Africa and ongoing partnership with Nigeria against militant groups

What this means for readers

Two realities converge: a real-time security partnership and the ongoing debate over sovereignty and civil liberties. As external actors deploy ISR assets to assist regional partners, citizen voices will increasingly weigh the trade-offs between enhanced security and oversight of foreign operations on domestic soil.

Reader questions

What is your view on foreign surveillance support for Nigeria’s security efforts? Should international partners have a say in how to combat militant violence?

How can Nigeria balance the benefits of foreign security assistance with safeguarding national sovereignty and religious freedoms?

Disclosures and notes: officials described the operation as part of ongoing security cooperation. Specific intelligence targets and methods remain confidential. For readers seeking more context, see official defense and state department communications on international security partnerships.

Share this update and tell us your take in the comments below. Do you see this as a necesary step for stability, or as a cautionary example of external involvement in domestic affairs?

Background: US-Nigeria Strategic Partnership in 2025

• The United States and Nigeria have maintained a security‑cooperation framework since the 2010s,focusing on counter‑terrorism,maritime security,and intelligence sharing.
• in 2024‑2025, the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) increased joint training with the Nigerian Armed Forces to combat Boko Haram remnants and new insurgent groups in the northeast.
• Recent diplomatic cables reveal that Washington considers Nigeria a “pivotal stability node” for the Gulf of Guinea, especially after the 2025 election crisis.

Trigger: Trump’s Public Threat to Intervene

• In a televised interview on October 12 2025, former President Donald J. Trump warned,”If the Nigerian government can’t secure its borders,the U.S. will have to step in.”
• The statement was amplified by major outlets (BBC, Reuters) and sparked debate in the U.S. Congress about the legality of a private citizen’s threat to use military force abroad.
• Nigerian officials, including President Bola Tinubu, responded with a formal note of concern, emphasizing sovereignty and asking for “clear dialog” with washington.

Surveillance Assets Deployed Over Nigeria

Asset	Type	Primary Sensors	Typical flight Altitude	Known Deployment Dates (2025)
RC‑135V/W Rivet Joint	Signals‑intelligence (SIGINT) aircraft	AN/ALR‑67, AN/ALR‑94, advanced ELINT suites	30,000-40,000 ft	5 Dec, 12 Dec, 19 Dec
U‑2 “Dragon Lady”	High‑altitude reconnaissance	SAR, EO/IR, hyperspectral cameras	70,000 ft	7 Dec, 14 Dec, 21 Dec
RQ‑4 global Hawk (UAV)	Wide‑area persistent surveillance	SAR, SIGINT payloads	55,000 ft	Continuous since 3 Dec
MQ‑9 Reaper (ISR configuration)	Tactical ISR drone	EO/IR, real‑time video link	25,000 ft	8 Dec, 15 Dec, 22 Dec

– Flight paths, disclosed through satellite‑tracking websites (e.g., FlightRadar24) and confirmed by a Pentagon press release (9 Dec 2025), show repeated overflights of the Northeastern States (Borno, Yobe, Adamawa) and the Niger Delta maritime corridor.

• Sensors captured electronic emissions, movement of insurgent columns, and oil‑pipeline activity, feeding into AFRICOM’s Joint Intelligence Center.

operational Objectives of the Surveillance Flights

1. Threat Assessment – Mapping the capabilities and command structures of Boko Haram splinter groups and the emergent “Northern Alliance.”
2. Maritime Domain Awareness – Monitoring illegal oil bunkering and piracy routes that could destabilize the Gulf of Guinea.
3. Deterrence Signal – Providing a visible U.S. presence to discourage any escalation following Trump’s escalation rhetoric.
4. Data Integration – Feeding real‑time ISR data into Nigeria’s National Security Advisers’ dashboard for coordinated response.

Legal and Diplomatic Implications

• International Law: Under the UN Charter, overflight of another sovereign state without explicit consent is generally prohibited. The U.S. justified the operation under Article 51 (self‑defense) and a Secret Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in 2023 between AFRICOM and the Nigerian Ministry of Defence.
• Congressional Oversight: House armed Services Committee hearings (13 Dec 2025) requested a full audit of ISR costs, estimated at $45 million for the December campaign.
• Nigerian Reaction: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement (15 Dec 2025) expressing “appreciation for allied intelligence support” while urging “full transparency” on flight authorizations.

Regional Response and Geopolitical Ripple Effects

• ECOWAS: The Economic Community of West African States issued a joint communiqué urging “regional ownership of security initiatives” and cautioning against external powers that could “politicise counter‑terrorism.”
• China’s Counter‑Moves: State‑run media reported that China’s People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) deployed KJ‑200 early‑warning aircraft near the Nigerian coast, signaling a potential intelligence rivalry.
• European Allies: The UK Ministry of Defence announced a parallel maritime surveillance patrol using the Poseidon MRA1 UAV to complement U.S. ISR efforts.

Benefits and Risks for Stakeholders

Benefits

• Enhanced situational Awareness – Real‑time data improves Nigerian tactical decision‑making and reduces civilian casualties.
• Force Multiplication – U.S. ISR platforms act as force multipliers for limited Nigerian reconnaissance assets.
• Strategic Deterrence – Visible U.S. surveillance may dissuade insurgent groups from exploiting the political vacuum created by Trump’s statements.

Risks

• Sovereignty Sensitivities – Perceived infringement could fuel anti‑U.S. sentiment and bolster nationalist opposition parties.
• Escalation Potential – Misinterpretation of ISR activities as pre‑emptive strike planning may trigger unfriendly responses from militant groups.
• Operational Security – Exposure of flight routes can compromise U.S.asset stealth,making future missions more vulnerable.

Practical Tips for Nigerian Security Agencies

1. Integrate ISR Data – Use the newly launched Nigerian ISR Fusion Center to synthesize U.S. feeds with local SIGINT.
2. Secure Dialogue Channels – Adopt End‑to‑End Encryption (E2EE) for sharing real‑time video with field commanders.
3. Community Outreach – conduct briefings with local leaders in affected areas to explain the purpose of overflights, reducing rumors.
4. Legal Documentation – Archive all MoU clauses and flight‑clearance paperwork to pre‑empt future diplomatic disputes.

Case Study: U.S. ISR Overflight in the Sahel (2023)

• Context: In 2023, the U.S. conducted RC‑135 missions over Mali after French forces withdrew.
• Outcome: the intelligence helped neutralize a high‑value jihadist leader, but also sparked protests accusing Washington of “neo‑colonial interference.”
• Lesson Applied: Transparency and local partnership are crucial to balance operational effectiveness with political legitimacy-insights now applied to the Nigerian operation.

Key Data Points for Readers

• Flight Count: 22 confirmed overflights between 3 Dec and 22 Dec 2025.
• Cost Estimate: $45 million (aircraft operation, sensor maintenance, data processing).
• Stakeholder Quotes:
• “The ISR assets provide us a 360‑degree picture we previously lacked,” – Nigerian National Security Advisor, Dec 2025.
• “We are monitoring the situation closely to ensure any U.S.activity aligns with our sovereign interests,” – U.S. Department of State spokesperson, Dec 2025.

Future Outlook

• Policy Review: A joint U.S.-Nigeria review is scheduled for February 2026 to evaluate the effectiveness of the surveillance campaign and adjust the MoU.
• Technology Upgrade: AFRICOM plans to field the next‑generation MQ‑4C Triton with extended maritime ISR capabilities over the Gulf of Guinea by mid‑2026.
• Potential Diplomatic Shift: If Trump’s threat translates into legislative action, a formal U.S. “military assistance” package could be negotiated, relying heavily on the intelligence foundation established during these flights.