Reports Claim U.S. Conducting Surveillance Operations Over Sambisa Forest

Unconfirmed reports suggest that the United States has expanded its counterterrorism focus to the Sambisa Forest in Borno State, following recent airstrikes reportedly carried out against Islamic State-linked fighters in Sokoto State.

According to the reports, the U.S. is currently conducting intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) activities over parts of the vast forest area, long considered a hideout for insurgent groups operating in Nigeria’s North-East.

Analyst Cites Flight Tracking Data

A security analyst, Brant Philip, disclosed the development via a post on his X (formerly Twitter) account, where he shared flight-tracking data purportedly showing a Gulfstream V aircraft operating over Borno State airspace.

Philip claimed that the surveillance activities are allegedly aimed at monitoring movements of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), a jihadist group known to operate across the North-East region and the Lake Chad Basin.

The analyst cited the aircraft’s flight pattern as an indication of intelligence-gathering operations rather than direct combat activity.

No Official Confirmation Yet

As of the time of filing this report, neither the United States government nor Nigerian security authorities have officially confirmed the surveillance operations or the purpose of the reported flight activity.

Security experts note that such aircraft are commonly used for intelligence collection, communications, and monitoring in counterterrorism operations, but caution that flight-tracking data alone does not conclusively confirm the nature or intent of a mission.

Background on Sambisa Forest

The Sambisa Forest has remained a key area of interest for security forces over the years due to its historical use by Boko Haram and ISWAP factions as a base for operations, training, and logistics.

The situation remains developing, and observers expect clearer details to emerge if official statements are issued by relevant authorities. Until then, the claims remain based on analyst reports and open-source tracking data.