National News – A joint counterterrorism operation involving Nigerian security forces and the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) has eliminated 21 suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists during a precision airstrike on a terrorist enclave in Arege, Borno State.
Military sources disclosed that among those killed were three mid-level ISWAP commanders allegedly responsible for coordinating attacks on communities in Monguno and Damasak areas of the state.
Confirming the operation, retired Colonel Timothy Antigha, a member of the Minister of Defence Media Team and a specialist in military public information and counterterrorism, described the strike as a significant outcome of the evolving security partnership between Nigeria and the United States.
According to Antigha, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets detected unusual terrorist movements in Arege, where militants were reportedly gathering to launch attacks on nearby targets.
“Once the intelligence was verified, Nigerian security agencies collaborated with AFRICOM, integrating satellite imagery and signals intelligence to track the terrorists. After confirming the presence of 21 armed fighters in a concealed staging area, a precision strike was authorised,” he said.
He noted that all identified targets were successfully neutralised, with no civilian casualties recorded.
Antigha said the operation demonstrated improved coordination, enhanced targeting capabilities and reduced collateral damage, which have become hallmarks of the strengthened Nigeria-US security collaboration.
He explained that Arege occupies a strategic position along a major ISWAP supply route connecting Nigeria, Niger and Chad, making it a critical logistics and operational hub for the terrorist group.
“The operation disrupted ISWAP’s movement of fuel, food supplies and ammunition, weakened its recruitment network, and degraded its command-and-control structure in the region,” he stated.
The defence expert added that the successful strike would significantly reduce the group’s capacity to launch attacks against military formations and civilian communities across northern Borno.
He further noted that the operation sends a strong message to insurgents that remote border communities previously considered safe havens are no longer beyond the reach of security forces.
Antigha highlighted a shift in Nigeria-US defence cooperation since the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu began in 2023, saying the partnership has moved beyond training and equipment support to real-time intelligence sharing and precision targeting of terrorist leaders.
Addressing concerns raised by critics of foreign involvement in Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts, he argued that effectiveness should be measured by the accuracy rather than the volume of military strikes.
“The Nigeria-AFRICOM model prioritises precision. Recent operations have shown that fewer strikes, guided by better intelligence, can achieve greater impact in dismantling terrorist networks,” he said.
He also revealed that sustained military pressure has contributed to the surrender of more than 104,000 former Boko Haram fighters and their dependents under Operation Safe Corridor since 2023.
According to him, the integration of US surveillance capabilities, including drones, satellites and signal intelligence, with Nigerian human intelligence has significantly improved operational efficiency and response times.
“Faster intelligence processing and strike authorisation mean terrorists have less time to escape, relocate hostages or plant improvised explosive devices. The psychological pressure on insurgents has increased considerably,” Antigha added.
Security analysts believe the latest operation underscores growing international cooperation in Nigeria’s fight against terrorism and could further weaken ISWAP’s operational influence in the Lake Chad region.
