The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has clarified that the recent announcement by the United States regarding the killing of 199 jihadists in Nigeria does not relate to a fresh military operation.
According to the military, the information released by US officials was the declassification of details from a joint Nigeria–United States counter-terrorism operation that was successfully carried out in May 2026.
Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, explained that the operation had already been acknowledged by Nigerian authorities, stressing that the latest comments from US officials simply involved information that was previously 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,” he said.
The clarification follows recent remarks by the US Senior Director for Counterterrorism at the National Security Council, Dr. Sebastian Gorka, who described the mission as one of the most significant counter-terrorism operations conducted under the current US administration.
Gorka disclosed that the operation resulted in the recovery of a massive cache of ISIS-linked electronic devices and intelligence materials.
“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,” he said.
According to him, the intelligence gathered during the operation will play a crucial role in disrupting ISIS communication networks and strengthening future counter-terrorism efforts.
“We are not watching and waiting. We are dealing death to bad people,” Gorka added.
He also warned that extremist groups continue to exploit poorly governed areas across parts of Africa, particularly within the Sahel region, to regroup, recruit fighters and expand their operations.
The US official further noted that security cooperation between Nigeria and the United States 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 Defence Headquarters reiterated that military collaboration between both nations remains active and continues to support ongoing efforts to combat terrorism and improve regional security.
