The United States has reportedly been carrying out intelligence-gathering surveillance flights over large parts of Nigeria since late November, Reuters reports.
The United States contractor-operated aircraft used for the surveillance missions usually take off from Ghana and fly over Nigeria before returning to Accra, the capital of Ghana, according to the article, which cited December flight monitoring data from current and former US officials.
However, the report stated that the reason for the surveillance missions could not be independently confirmed.
Reuters noted that the surveillance operations also come months after a United States pilot working for a missionary agency was kidnapped in neighbouring Niger.
Requests for comment from the corporation were unfortunately not responded to.
A former United States official said the aircraft was among several assets moved to Ghana by the Trump administration in November.
A current United States official also acknowledged that the plane had been over Nigeria but refrained from providing specifics due to diplomatic sensitivities.
Another administration official revealed that Washington was continuing to work with Nigeria to “address religious violence, anti-Christian attacks, and the destabilising spread of terrorism.”
All the officials spoke on condition of anonymity.
Meanwhile, a Nigerian security source told Reuters that the US agreed during a November 20 meeting between National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu and US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth to deploy air assets for intelligence gathering.
