By Col. TIMOTHY ANTIGHA (Rtd)

The Nigeria-US AFRICOM security partnership is delivering measurable results. In the latest precision operation in Arege, Borno State, 21 ISWAP fighters were eliminated in a joint strike coordinated by the Nigerian Air Force and US Africa Command. The strike marks another dividend from a defence relationship that has shifted from training-only to direct, intelligence-driven action against terrorist networks.

From Training to Targeting: The New Phase of Cooperation

For years, US-Nigeria security cooperation focused on capacity building: training Nigerian troops, donating equipment, and sharing general intelligence. Since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assumed office in May 2023, that partnership entered a more operational phase. The emphasis moved to real-time intelligence fusion, precision strikes, and the targeting of high-value terrorist commanders.

Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance assets observed that terrorists were assembling in Arege for possible attacks on targets within the locality. Expectedly, operations coordination with friendly firces was activated. The data was fused with US AFRICOM satellite imagery and signals intelligence. Once a cluster of 21 armed terrorists was confirmed in a concealed staging area, a joint strike was authorized.

The result is that all 21 targets were neutralized with no civilian casualties reported. That precision matters. It shows improved targeting, better coordination, and reduced collateral damage — the exact outcomes the partnership was redesigned to achieve.

Why Arege Matters

Arege sits on a key ISWAP supply route between Nigeria, Niger, and Chad. Eliminating fighters there disrupts three things:

1. Logistics. ISWAP uses Arege to move fuel, food, and ammunition to fighters in the Sambisa and Mandara corridors.

2. Recruitment. The community has been a recruitment pool for young fighters lured by cash and coercion.

3. Command and control. Credible sources say 3 of the 21 killed were mid-level commanders responsible for coordinating raids into Monguno and Damasak.

By degrading ISWAP in Arege, Nigerian forces reduce the group’s ability to launch attacks on military outposts and civilian communities in northern Borno. The operation also sends a signal that border areas long considered safe havens for terrorists are now within strike range.

The Dividend of Intelligence Sharing

The real yield of the AFRICOM partnership is intelligence. US surveillance assets — drones, satellites, and signals collection — cover terrain that Nigerian forces cannot patrol round the clock. Nigerian human intelligence provides ground context that satellite data cannot. The ensuing operational synergy creates a formidable fighting force.

Under the 2024 revised security cooperation framework, data now flows faster. Response time from “target identified” to “strike authorized” has dropped significantly. The Arege operation was planned and executed within an acceptable combat operation timeframe.

The speed achieved saves lives. Faster strikes mean fewer chances for terrorists to disperse, for hostages to be moved, or for Improvised Explosive Devices to be planted. It also increases the psychological pressure on ISWAP fighters who can no longer assume that cover of darkness or remote locations guarantees safety.

Precision Over Volume

Critics of US involvement often ask if airstrikes alone can end insurgency. The Nigeria-AFRICOM model answers that question differently. it’s not about the volume of strikes but the precision of strikes. In 2022, Nigeria recorded over 400 airstrikes with a reported precision rate of 41%. In 2024, the number of strikes dropped, but precision rose to 67%, according to Nigerian Air Force data. The Arege operation fits that pattern; fewer bombs, higher accuracy, and better intelligence.

This approach aligns with Tinubu’s “Smart Defence” doctrine. The goal is to degrade leadership, cut supply lines, and force surrenders. Since 2023, over 104,000 former Boko Haram terrorists and dependents have surrendered under Operation Safe Corridor. Many cite sustained pressure and loss of commanders as reasons for laying down arms.

Broader Impact on Regional Security.

The Arege strike has ripple effects beyond Borno. The Lake Chad Basin Commission (MNJTF), which includes Nigeria, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon, has intensified joint operations since 2023. The success achieved in Arege will, therefore, create the required operational momentum. When ISWAP is pressured in Arege, it cannot easily relocate to Niger or Chad without being tracked. That regional coordination is why civilian deaths from insurgency in the Lake Chad region fell from 1,842 in 2022 to 623 in 2024; a 66% drop.

The partnership also boosts Nigerian capability long-term. Each joint operation includes Nigerian personnel in planning, targeting, and post-strike assessment. That transfers skills. NAF drone surveillance hours have increased 4x since 2022, and Nigerian officers now lead more targeting meetings than before.

Verdict

There is no claim that 21 fighters killed will end ISWAP. The group remains resilient and recruits to replace losses. But the Arege operation shows the partnership is working as designed: Nigerian leadership and the US enabling support and precise results. The dividends are clear: reduced terrorist space, disrupted logistics, improved Nigerian capability, and fewer civilian deaths. President Tinubu’s decision to deepen intelligence cooperation with AFRICOM while keeping Nigeria in command is paying off.

Security is measured in trends, not episodes. The trend since 2023 is downward for insurgent attacks and upward for operational success. With sustained investment in intelligence, troop welfare, and regional coordination, operations like Arege will become the norm, not the exception. The Nigeria-US AFRICOM partnership is no longer about potential. In Arege, it delivered 21 fewer terrorists and one more community with a chance at peace. That is a dividend worth building on.

•Col Timothy Antigha (Rtd) is a specialist in Military Public Information and Counterterrorism and a member of the Minister of Defence Media Team.

Update news