US Forces Decimate 199 Jihadists in Secret Nigerian Operation, Trump Reveals

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) of Nigeria has clarified that recent statements by United States officials concerning the killing of 199 jihadists and the recovery of ISIS-linked weapons and electronic equipment in Nigeria do not signify a new military engagement. Instead, the DHQ stated that the information released by US officials represents the declassification of details from a previously executed joint Nigeria-US counter-terrorism mission, which took place in May 2026.

Major General Samaila Uba, Director of Defence Information, confirmed that this operation had already been publicly acknowledged by Nigerian authorities. He emphasized that the recent disclosures were based on information that had previously been 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," Major General Uba stated.

The clarification followed comments from Dr. Sebastian Gorka, who served as US President Donald Trump's deputy assistant and Senior Director for Counterterrorism at the National Security Council. Speaking during an interview with Marissa Streit of PragerU, Gorka described the mission as one of the most significant counter-terrorism operations conducted under the then-current US administration. He recounted watching the operation live from the situation room, stating, "I watched our operatives kill 199 jihadists in one operation." Gorka also claimed this was the largest "neutralisation" of enemy combatants since the September 11 attacks, highlighting that these "one hundred and ninety-nine jihadists who will not harm Americans again."

A crucial aspect of the operation, according to Gorka, was the scale of intelligence recovered. He noted, "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." This "priceless" intelligence is now being meticulously analyzed by experts to understand how ISIS communicates, signifying a renewed focus on counterterrorism efforts by the US. Gorka further asserted the US strategy: "We are not watching and waiting. We are dealing death to bad people."

Gorka also pointed out the broader context, explaining that extremist groups continue to exploit ungoverned spaces in various parts of Africa, particularly the Sahel region, to regroup and expand their operations. He underscored the importance of ongoing cooperation between the US and Nigeria as central to counter-terrorism efforts, citing the establishment of a Joint Working Group on Security following high-level engagements between the two countries in late 2025.