DHQ: US Disclosure Of 199 Neutralised Jihadists Refers To Earlier Joint Nigeria-US Operation

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has clarified that the recent disclosure by the United States claiming that 199 jihadists were killed during a counterterrorism operation in Nigeria does not relate to a new military offensive but to a joint Nigeria-US operation carried out in May 2026.

The clarification followed remarks by the United States Senior Director for Counterterrorism at the National Security Council, Dr. Sebastian Gorka, who recently disclosed that US operatives neutralised 199 jihadists in a single operation in Nigeria, describing it as the largest enemy neutralisation by US forces since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

Speaking with journalists on Monday, the Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, said the operation had already been announced by the Nigerian military, explaining that the latest information released by US authorities was previously classified.

"This is not a new operation. We have previously communicated our highly successful joint operations in May. What you are hearing are some declassified information concerning our previous operation being given out now. However, Nigeria-US joint operations and collaboration are very much on course," Uba said.

According to the Defence Headquarters, the recent US disclosure simply provides additional details about the earlier operation rather than announcing a fresh military action.

During an interview aired on June 24, Gorka described the mission as one of the Trump administration's most significant counterterrorism successes.

He claimed the operation also resulted in the recovery of an unprecedented volume of electronic intelligence from ISIS camps.

"We needed an extra plane to bring home all the electronic material that we captured in those camps. The haul was three times bigger than any enemy electronics haul since 9/11. That is priceless because now our experts are taking apart all of that information, looking at how ISIS is communicating with each other," Gorka said.

He added that the recovered intelligence would strengthen ongoing efforts to dismantle ISIS networks and improve counterterrorism operations globally.

Gorka also said the current US administration had adopted a more aggressive approach to combating terrorism.

"We are not watching and waiting. We are dealing death to bad people," he said.

According to him, extremist groups continue to exploit poorly governed areas across Africa, particularly in the Sahel region, to regroup and expand their operations.

The renewed security collaboration between Nigeria and the United States followed a high-level visit by the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, to Washington in November 2025. The engagement led to the establishment of a Joint Working Group on Security and enhanced cooperation between both countries in intelligence sharing and counterterrorism operations.

The Defence Headquarters reaffirmed that the bilateral security partnership remains active, with both countries continuing to work together in ongoing operations aimed at degrading terrorist networks operating in Nigeria's North-East and the wider Lake Chad Basin.