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The United States military is reportedly drawing up contingency plans for possible airstrikes in Nigeria, following an order from President Donald Trump instructing the Pentagon to “prepare to intervene” to protect Christians from terrorist attacks, The New York Times has reported.
The report, published on Wednesday, stated that the U.S. Africa Command had submitted several operational strategies to the Department of Defence in response to Secretary Pete Hegseth’s directive to formulate plans in line with Trump’s instructions.
Officials familiar with the planning told The New York Times that the proposals, categorised as “heavy,” “medium,” and “light,” outline varying degrees of military involvement in Nigeria.
The “heavy” plan would see the deployment of an aircraft carrier strike group to the Gulf of Guinea, supported by fighter jets or long-range bombers capable of hitting militant targets deep within northern Nigeria.
Under the “medium” option, the U.S. would deploy MQ-9 Reaper and MQ-1 Predator drones to conduct targeted strikes on insurgent bases, convoys, and vehicles, in coordination with U.S. intelligence for “accurate and timely” operations.
Conversely, the “light” plan focuses on intelligence sharing, logistical support, and joint missions with Nigerian forces to combat Boko Haram and other terrorist groups accused of mass killings, kidnappings, and attacks on churches.
Senior Pentagon officials reportedly admitted that limited airstrikes or drone operations alone would not resolve Nigeria’s prolonged insurgency unless the U.S. launched a large-scale campaign similar to those in Iraq or Afghanistan—an approach Washington is not currently pursuing.
Earlier, President Trump had warned he might send U.S. forces into Nigeria “guns-a-blazing” if the country failed to halt what he described as the persecution of Christians by terrorists.
“If the Nigerian government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately suspend all aid and may very well enter that now disgraced country ‘guns-a-blazing’ to eliminate the terrorists committing these atrocities,” Trump declared on Truth Social.
He added, “I am instructing our Department of War to prepare for possible action. If we attack, it will be fast, fierce, and decisive.”
This development came a day after the American president designated Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” over the killing of Christians, calling the situation a “mass slaughter.”
“Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical terrorists are responsible for this massacre,” Trump stated, adding that the United States “cannot stand by while such atrocities continue.”
He also directed Congressman Riley Moore and House Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole to investigate the matter.
In response, President Bola Tinubu, in a statement he personally signed on Saturday, rejected claims that Nigeria is hostile to Christians, affirming the nation’s commitment to religious freedom and tolerance.
“The portrayal of Nigeria as a religiously intolerant country does not reflect our reality and fails to acknowledge our government’s ongoing efforts to safeguard freedom of religion and belief,” he said.
Tinubu added that since 2023, his administration has maintained continuous engagement with both Christian and Muslim leaders while addressing security challenges that affect citizens of all faiths and regions.
“Religious liberty and tolerance form a central pillar of our collective identity and will always remain so. Nigeria’s Constitution guarantees the protection of all citizens’ faiths, and our government is committed to deepening cooperation with the United States and the international community to protect all religious communities,” the president concluded.
