Nigerian military says intel given to US voluntarily, denies US seizure claim
What happened? Nigerian Director of Defence Information Samalia Uba told PREMIUM TIMES that the electronic materials allegedly seized by US forces from terrorists were actually handed over voluntarily by the Nigerian government as part of ongoing security cooperation. He said the intelligence cache, which contained declassified details of past counter‑terrorism operations, was not taken by US troops but given to them.
Why does it matter? This contradicts US Deputy Assistant to the President Sebastian Gorka’s claim that American forces seized a "large haul" of electronics after killing 199 jihadists in a raid, describing it as the biggest intelligence haul since 9/11. The disagreement touches on sovereignty, the nature of US‑Nigeria counter‑terrorism cooperation, and how intelligence sharing is portrayed publicly.
What should you know? The Nigerian spokesperson said the joint operation that killed ISWAP commander Abu‑Bilal al‑Minuki in May was already publicized, and the intelligence sharing is routine. Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa echoed that sharing intelligence helps the US understand terrorist activity in Nigeria. Separately, the US has sanctioned Lagos‑based bureau‑de‑change operator Mukhtar Adamu and associates for allegedly financing ISIS‑W Africa, a move mirrored by Nigeria. Understanding the true nature of the intelligence exchange helps assess the effectiveness and transparency of the security partnership affecting Nigeria’s counter‑terrorism efforts.