The Defence Headquarters on Sunday confirmed that the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) carried out a “precision airstrike” targeting an Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) cell operating in northern Nigeria, as part of ongoing regional counter-terrorism cooperation.
The announcement followed reports circulating Sunday morning of a “deadly US strike on ISIL in Nigeria” as part of Sahel counter-terror operations. Nigeria’s Defence Media Operations Director, Major General Edward Buba, said the strike occurred late Friday, April 10, 2026, and was “conducted with the full knowledge and consent of Nigerian authorities.”
“This was a coordinated action against a known ISIL-affiliated cell that had been tracked by joint intelligence for weeks,” Gen. Buba told reporters at Defence HQ, Abuja. “The operation targeted leadership elements planning attacks on civilian populations in the Lake Chad basin. No Nigerian civilian casualties were recorded.”
What Happened
According to the DHQ briefing, the strike hit a remote location in Borno State, near the border with the Niger Republic, where ISGS fighters were allegedly gathered. AFRICOM, in a separate statement released from Stuttgart, Germany, said the operation killed “multiple ISIL-GS members” and degraded the group’s command structure.
AFRICOM did not release the number of casualties or names, citing “operational security.” It added that the strike was carried out by “remotely piloted aircraft” and that “no US forces were on the ground.”
The Nigerian Air Force said it provided “airspace clearance and battle damage assessment” but did not participate in the strike itself. “This is what partnership looks like,” said Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, NAF spokesperson. “We share intelligence, they act where they have unique capabilities, and we secure the outcome.”
Context: ISIL in Nigeria and the Sahel
Islamic State affiliates have been active in Nigeria since 2016, when a faction of Boko Haram pledged allegiance to ISIL and rebranded as Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). A smaller ISGS element operates across the Mali-Niger-Burkina Faso tri-border area and into northern Nigeria.
The last publicly acknowledged US strike in Nigeria was in August 2024, targeting an ISWAP vehicle convoy in Borno. Since then, Nigeria has expanded its own drone and air capabilities, but still partners with AFRICOM for high-value targets and signals intelligence.
Security analyst Dr Kabir Adamu of Beacon Consulting said Sunday’s strike fits a pattern. “The US is focusing on leadership decapitation. ISGS has been under pressure in Mali and Niger after the coups there. Some fighters are drifting south. This strike is pre-emptive,” he said.
Government Reaction
The Presidency welcomed the operation. In a statement signed by Special Adviser on Media, Bayo Onanuga, President Bola Tinubu said, “Nigeria will work with all partners to end terrorism. We thank the United States for its support. But the bulk of the fighting is and will remain Nigerian.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the strike was consistent with the 2023 Nigeria-US Defence Cooperation Framework, which allows “intelligence sharing and coordinated kinetic actions against designated terrorist groups.”
Concerns and Criticism
Human rights groups urged transparency. Amnesty International Nigeria said: “We recognise the need to fight terrorism. But secret strikes raise questions. Government must confirm no civilians were harmed and publish a post-strike assessment.”
In the National Assembly, Senator Ali Ndume, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, backed the strike but warned against “dependence.” “We appreciate allies, but we must build our own strike capacity. We can’t always call Washington when there’s a fire,” he said.
Some northern residents expressed mixed feelings. A community leader in Maiduguri, who asked not to be named, said: “If they killed terrorists, good. But we always hear about strikes after they happen. We want to hear about them before, so we know our villages are safe.”
Regional Picture
The strike comes amid broader Sahel instability. Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso — all under military juntas — have reduced cooperation with Western forces but increased ties with Russia. Niger’s junta leader was reported today to have promoted himself to the highest army rank. US operations in the region now rely heavily on Nigeria and Chad as partners.
AFRICOM said it would “continue to support African-led solutions” and that Friday’s strike was “at the request of the Government of Nigeria.”
What Next
Defence HQ said ground troops have moved to “exploit” the strike and conduct clearance operations in the area. No photos or videos were released.
For now, the official line is clear: the strike happened, it was coordinated, and it targeted ISIL. As with all counter-terror operations, the details will emerge slowly — if at all.
