The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has clarified that the recent announcement by the United States regarding the elimination of 199 jihadists and the seizure of a large cache of ISIS weapons, ammunition, and electronic devices does not relate to a new military operation.
According to the DHQ, the mission was a successful joint counter-terrorism operation carried out by Nigerian and US forces in May 2026, and had already been disclosed by the Nigerian military. The latest information released by US authorities, it said, consists of details that were previously classified.
Speaking on Monday, the Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, explained that the US statement merely provided additional information about an operation that had already taken place.
“This is not a new operation. We had earlier informed the public about our successful joint operations in May. What has been released by the United States are declassified details from that operation. Nigeria-US military collaboration remains active and continues to yield positive results,” he said.
The clarification came after comments by Dr. Sebastian Gorka, the US Senior Director for Counterterrorism at the National Security Council, who described the operation as one of the most significant counter-terrorism successes recorded under the current US administration.
Gorka revealed that the mission resulted in the recovery of an unprecedented volume of electronic intelligence from ISIS camps, describing it as the largest seizure of enemy electronic equipment since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States.
He disclosed that the volume of intelligence recovered was so extensive that an additional aircraft was required to transport the equipment.
According to him, the electronic devices are now being analysed by intelligence experts to uncover ISIS communication methods, operational networks, and future plans.
“The haul was three times larger than any enemy electronics recovery since 9/11. That information is invaluable because our experts are now examining how ISIS operatives communicate and coordinate their activities,” Gorka said.
He stressed that the intelligence gathered would significantly strengthen ongoing efforts to dismantle ISIS networks across Africa and other regions.
Gorka also stated that the US had adopted a more aggressive approach to combating terrorism, noting that security forces were taking proactive action against extremist groups rather than waiting for attacks to occur.
“We are not watching and waiting. We are dealing death to bad people,” he said.
He warned that terrorist organisations continue to exploit poorly governed areas, particularly in Africa, to establish new operational bases and rebuild their capabilities.
According to Gorka, Africa remains a major focus because ISIS is attempting to re-establish a caliphate by taking advantage of ungoverned territories across the continent.
The strengthened security cooperation between Nigeria and the United States followed the visit of Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, to Washington in November 2025. The engagement led to the creation of a Joint Working Group on Security, which has since coordinated several operations targeting terrorist strongholds in Nigeria’s North-East.
The DHQ maintained that the partnership with the United States continues to enhance intelligence sharing, surveillance, and coordinated military operations aimed at degrading terrorist groups operating within the region.
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