American Surveillance Aircraft Spotted Over Sambisa as US Resumes ISR Flights

The United States has resumed intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) operations over parts of Nigeria’s North-East, following reports of an American aircraft flying around the Sambisa Forest area in Borno State.

Flight-tracking information shared over the weekend showed the aircraft operating over sections of the region, suggesting a return of routine aerial monitoring days after the United States carried out strikes on Islamic State-linked targets in Sokoto State.

What the Flight Data Shows

Reports describing the activity say the aircraft involved is a Gulfstream V, a long-range jet that is often adapted for intelligence and surveillance missions. The aircraft has reportedly appeared over Nigerian airspace frequently since the surveillance activity began late last month.

The same reports also linked the aircraft’s operator to Tenax Aerospace, a company associated with special-mission aviation and intelligence-related flights.

Why Sambisa Matters

Security observers say renewed ISR flights over Sambisa point to a focus on the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), which has operated mainly in the Northeast and the wider Lake Chad Basin region. A Sahel-focused terrorism tracker, Brant Philip, wrote on X that the mission was aimed at monitoring ISWAP activity in the Sambisa axis.

Operations Said to Have Started in Ghana

Flight records referenced in the report indicate the surveillance operations began on November 24, with the aircraft departing from Ghana, which is commonly described as a logistics hub for some US activities in Africa.

A former US official was also quoted as saying the missions include intelligence gathering on militant groups operating in Nigeria, alongside efforts connected to tracking an American pilot kidnapped in neighboring Niger.

Security Talks and What Comes Next

The renewed surveillance comes shortly after Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, met with US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth in Washington. After that meeting, Hegseth said the United States would work “aggressively” with Nigeria to confront jihadist threats, including attacks affecting Christian communities.

The recent US strikes in Sokoto were also described as the first major step following President Donald Trump’s public warnings about direct action against jihadist groups in Nigeria. With surveillance flights now reported over Sambisa, analysts see the activity as part of broader monitoring efforts that could shape future counter-terrorism decisions.

Reports of Movement After the Strikes

Separately, community sources quoted in earlier reports claimed that some suspected fighters began relocating in small numbers after the Christmas Day strikes, suggesting that pressure from air operations may be influencing movement patterns in parts of the North.