The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) clarified on Monday that a recent report regarding the elimination of 199 jihadists and the seizure of a significant cache of ISIS weaponry and electronics refers to a joint mission from May 2026, rather than a new event. Major General Samaila Uba, the Director of Defence Information, explained that the details shared by the United States represent declassified information from a mission already reported by the Nigerian military.
Uba emphasized that the collaboration between Nigeria and the US remains active and productive. This clarification responded to remarks by Dr. Sebastian Gorka, the US Senior Director for Counterterrorism, who highlighted the mission’s success and the retrieval of a massive amount of enemy electronics—the largest collection captured since the September 11, 2001, attacks.
Gorka noted that the gathered intelligence is currently being analyzed to better understand ISIS communication strategies. He stressed that the US administration has shifted to a more proactive security approach to prevent extremist groups from utilizing ungoverned areas in Africa to rebuild. This security alliance was solidified following a November 2025 visit to Washington by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, which established a joint working group targeting terrorist hideouts in Northeastern Nigeria.
