U.S. Military Drafts Contingency Plans for Possible Airstrikes in Nigeria

By Chinedu Echianu
The United States military has reportedly developed contingency plans for potential airstrikes in Nigeria following a directive from President Donald Trump to the Pentagon to “prepare to intervene” in order to protect Christians from terrorist attacks. According to The New York Times, the U.S. Africa Command has presented several operational options to the Department of War, responding to a request from Secretary Pete Hegseth to implement Trump’s order.

Military officials familiar with the discussions revealed that the proposals—classified as “heavy,” “medium,” and “light”—outline varying levels of U.S. engagement in Nigeria.
Under the “heavy option,” Washington would deploy an aircraft carrier strike group to the Gulf of Guinea, supported by fighter jets or long-range bombers to hit militant targets deep inside northern Nigeria. The “medium option” proposes the use of MQ-9 Reaper and MQ-1 Predator drones for targeted strikes on insurgent camps, convoys, and vehicles, while the “light option” focuses on intelligence sharing, logistics, and joint operations with Nigerian forces against Boko Haram and other Islamist groups.

Despite the planning, Pentagon sources reportedly acknowledge that limited airstrikes or drone operations alone are unlikely to end Nigeria’s prolonged insurgency without a full-scale campaign similar to those in Iraq or Afghanistan—an option currently not under consideration in Washington.
The report follows Trump’s recent warning that he could deploy American military forces to Nigeria if what he described as “genocide against Christians” is not stopped—a claim the Bola Tinubu administration has dismissed as false.

In a related development, China has declared its support for Nigeria, warning against foreign interference under the guise of religion or human rights. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning, at a press conference in Beijing, stated that “China firmly opposes any country using religion and human rights as an excuse to interfere in other countries’ internal affairs, and threatening other countries with sanctions and force.”

Meanwhile, the Federal Government on Wednesday rejected Nigeria’s inclusion on a U.S. list of countries violating religious freedom, describing the move as based on “inaccurate data and misrepresentation” of the country’s security challenges.
Minister of Information Mohammed Idris clarified that Nigeria faces terrorism, not religious persecution, adding that both Christians and Muslims have suffered from extremist violence.
“The government disputes claims of targeted religious persecution. Since 2023, President Tinubu’s administration has neutralised over 13,500 militants and rescued more than 11,000 hostages. Nigeria remains open to U.S. collaboration on counterterrorism while emphasising mutual respect for sovereignty,” Idris stated.

He reaffirmed that Nigeria continues to prioritise national security and “the protection of all citizens regardless of religious affiliation.”
Later on Wednesday, Trump reiterated his readiness to act if the alleged persecution of Christians continues unchecked, saying, “The United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening there. We stand ready, willing, and able to save our great Christian population around the world.”
The development has heightened diplomatic tensions and revived debate in Washington over the U.S. role in foreign religious conflicts.