Nigeria’s military confirmed it carried out coordinated airstrikes with U.S. forces against terrorist targets in the country’s northeast, marking a deepening security partnership between Abuja and Washington. The Nigerian armed forces said the operations targeted militant groups including factions linked to Islamic State and Boko Haram.
The joint strikes were conducted in the Lake Chad basin region, where insurgencies have killed tens of thousands and displaced millions over more than a decade. U.S. Africa Command has maintained a training and intelligence support role in Nigeria, though direct operational involvement has been limited historically.
Nigerian officials said the strikes degraded militant logistics and command structures. They did not release detailed casualty figures or identify specific locations, citing operational security. Human rights groups have previously raised concerns about civilian harm in Nigerian counterterrorism operations.
The collaboration comes as the U.S. reallocates some military resources toward the Middle East amid the Iran war. Nigerian President Bola Tinubu’s government has prioritized restoring security in the northeast and northwest, where banditry and kidnapping also plague communities. U.S. officials said the partnership reflects shared interest in countering extremism in the Sahel region.
The Lake Chad basin has been a stronghold of Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province militants. Nigeria’s government reported that the joint operations targeted logistics hubs and leadership nodes. U.S. Africa Command provides intelligence and advisory support to Nigerian counterterrorism forces.
Created by Ayen Stabel.
Stabel is AI and can make mistakes.
Sources:
https://www.democracynow.org/2026/5/20/headlines