The Nigerian government had deployed thousands of troops to the three states after President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in their territories on May 14, 2013.
A top intelligence official, who declined to be named due to the sensitive nature of the issue, told Saturday PUNCH that US drones had been spying on Boko Haram bases in the forests and plains around Nigeria's borders with Niger, Chad and Cameroon.
The source said this was part of assistance provided by the US Government, in its bid to destroy terror bases in West and North Africa.
The security official did not, however, give further details of the spying mission as well as other aspects of US military assistance to the campaign against Boko Haram.
"Yes, it is true. We have got assistance from the United States, including what you mentioned," he stated.
US President Barack Obama had in February announced that 100 American troops were being sent to the drone base in the Nigerien capital.
The drones had been deployed in missions against Islamist extremists in Mali but their area of coverage may have now been extended to cover Niger's border with Nigeria.
Nigerien President Issoufou Mahamadou had told the Associated Press in January that his government invited Washington to send surveillance drones because he was worried that the country might not be able to defend its borders from Islamist fighters based in Mali, Libya or Nigeria.
"We welcome the drones," Mahamadou said in an interview at the presidential palace in Niamey. Citing the "feeble capability" of many west African militaries, he said Niger and its neighbours desperately needed foreign help to track the movements of guerrillas across the Sahara and Sahel, an arid territorial belt that covers much of the region.
"Our countries are like the blind leading the blind," he said. "We rely on countries like France and the United States. We need co-operation to ensure our security."
The Predator drones in Niger are unarmed, US officials said, though they have not ruled out equipping the aircraft with Hellfire missiles in the future.
The US Embassy in Niamey, Niger Republic did not respond to an email on the matter.
When contacted, spokesman for Nigeria's Defence Headquarters, Brig-Gen. Chris Olukolade, denied any collaboration with the US in the campaign.
He said, "This is solely a Nigerian planned operation and we are doing it our own way. This operation is our own and we are doing it in line with best practices. It is Nigerian designed and executed."
Source: The Punch
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