The most recent allegations originated from Brant Philip, an analyst who monitors militant activity across the Sahel region. Through posts on social media platform X, Philip asserted that a crewed American intelligence gathering aircraft flew over territories controlled by the Islamic State West Africa Province near Lake Chad’s southwestern banks in Borno State on Saturday. According to Philip, the plane departed from Ghana’s capital, Accra.
Philip followed up on Sunday, reporting that the same surveillance plane had made a third consecutive appearance, performing repeated passes over what he identified as ISWAP’s “Mantiqah Krinwa” stronghold situated along Lake Chad’s periphery.
These surveillance reports build upon earlier assertions—also traced to a source referenced by Philip, suggesting Washington intends to launch drone strikes on Nigerian soil through a newly established but confidential security pact. The alleged agreement would reportedly permit only unmanned aircraft for offensive operations, specifically prohibiting the deployment of American combat jets or heavy bombers.