The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has said the Nigeria US partnership in counter-terrorism operations has significantly reduced the operational capacity of the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) and other terrorist groups operating within the region.
The Director of Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. Samaila Uba, made the disclosure during an X Spaces engagement focused on strengthening security through strategic information sharing and the role of the Nigeria-United States military partnership in combating terrorism. According to Uba, cooperation between both countries has strengthened intelligence gathering, logistics support, surveillance capabilities, strategic communication, and military training, resulting in more effective counter-terrorism operations.
Uba noted that terrorism remains a transnational threat that cannot be addressed by any country in isolation. He said the Nigeria US partnership has enhanced intelligence sharing and supported intelligence-led operations that have disrupted terrorist networks and destroyed operational bases used by insurgent groups.
According to him, collaborative efforts between the two countries have also improved surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, enabling security forces to identify and respond to threats more effectively. The defence spokesman added that specialised training programmes supported by the partnership have strengthened the operational readiness of Nigerian troops deployed in counter-terrorism missions.
Uba expressed appreciation to the United States government and the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) for their continued support in Nigeria’s fight against terrorism and violent extremism.
He also commended President Bola Tinubu for providing the Armed Forces of Nigeria with the equipment, resources, and operational platforms needed to sustain ongoing security operations across the country. According to him, continued cooperation and strategic communication remain critical to preserving gains achieved against terrorist groups.
The Director of Public Affairs for AFRICOM, Col. Rebecca Heyse, also highlighted the impact of recent joint operations conducted by Nigerian and U.S. forces. She disclosed that operations launched on May 16 followed months of planning and intelligence coordination under the Nigeria US partnership framework.
According to Heyse, the operations resulted in the elimination of Abu Bilal al-Minuki, identified as ISIS’ global second-in-command, alongside several operational and media leaders within the terrorist network.
She further stated that more than 200 ISIS fighters were eliminated during the operations. The missions also led to the destruction of terrorist checkpoints, weapons caches, logistics hubs, training facilities, financial networks, and media structures used to support terrorist activities.
Heyse attributed the achievements to close cooperation between Nigerian and U.S. military personnel, as well as intelligence support from relevant agencies. She said the partnership is based on respect for Nigeria’s sovereignty and demonstrates the value of international cooperation in addressing complex security threats.
Both Uba and Heyse emphasised that strategic information sharing, intelligence cooperation, and public engagement remain essential to sustaining progress against terrorism and strengthening regional stability. The Nigeria US partnership, they noted, continues to play a significant role in ongoing efforts to combat terrorism and violent extremism across the region.
